A Price Above Rubies
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Movie Reviews of A Price Above Rubies
Movie Review: Ambitious Movie About Finding One's Self
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's get the basics out of the way first: Great film. Great story, great title, and that vanishingly rare thing, a satisfying ending. But it doesn't all quite hold together as well as it might, and it isn't quite as riveting as it might be, either. So, a great film, but a few minor problems keep it a hair short of five stars. Why?Because of the nature of the personal ground the movie covers, its action comes largely through dialogue. Although it is a great drama, and very well worth seeing, it cannot quite reach the compelling heights of Boaz Yakin's earlier movie Fresh -- which covered more well-defined ground and invited the audience to try to understand the action, not the words. It isn't as unflinching as Tokyo Decadence, either, but then, most people have difficulty making it all the way through Tokyo Decadence, and even then the hard images they have witnessed leave them with little ability to even wonder what it was they just saw. Although Fresh too alienated a larger audience with imagery and language too bold for the more dainty folks, A Price Above Rubies is probably the most approachable of the three films, despite an undeniable sexual energy that comes through in intermittent bursts. What matters, though, is that A Price Above Rubies manages to pull off a great deal of difficult narrative work quite gracefully, and will leave most anyone watching wondering what it really means, and how it applies to them. To this extent, it succeeds, and the film is an admirable and thoroughly enjoyable achievement that surprises and delights. But the film tries to cover so much ground so quickly, particularly in the last half hour, that the audience has to work fairly hard not only at following the rather impressive territory our heroine moves through in her personal growth, but also at believing that all this maturing and realization and epiphany by her as well as everyone else is really possible. These are problems that Fresh, and for that matter Tokyo Decadence, didn't have, and as much as I enjoyed A Price Above Rubies, I'd recommend either of the other two films above it.
Movie Review: A Zellweger Showcase Specially Relevant in Religious Era
Summary: 4 Stars
A carefully and compellingly rendered drama of a contemporary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community.
In a role played well before her current celebrity (circa Jerry Maguire), Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. That she doesn't "look Jewish" (by the stereotype) does not make her less convincing....
The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without
belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! (And lowers my blood pressure!) While compelling in the early going, the plot becomes a bit overly complex. But the film remains very well worth watching throughout. Production design is exceptional!
Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film's portrayal of Jewish Orthodoxy might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithically benign. It is not.
Traditional thought and practice -- orthodoxy in many settings -- has its beauties and strengths, and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well. I've personally experienced both the light and the dark, and know they both exist. "A Price Above Rubies" depicts the delicate balance gone awry.
For a very different, also wonderful film which depicts both light and shadow sides of American Jewish traditionalism, but less critical of Orthodoxy, try "The Chosen" (1982) (adapted from Chaim Potok's book), with Robby Benson (quite good in this film, to my surprise), Rod Steiger and Maximillian Schell. For me "The Chosen" is a five star, among my all-time top 10 films!
Movie Review: AN INTENSE TALE OF EMANCIPATION. NOT ABOUT RELIGION.
Summary: 4 Stars
Beyond a touch of sensationalistic Hollywoodisation (over-simplifying the perceived orthodoxy of Jews) the movie is about a woman who is stifled in her relationship with a fanatically devout husband, and in that it etches an intermittently sharp portrait of a subculture caught between a rich historical legacy and a changing contemporary world.To me, the movie was NOT about the Hasidic way of life. I could see this film holding just about as relevant even if I replaced the community potrayed in it with any other. It is about the marital suffering of two people who are very different in their moorings.
Renee Zellweger, the pivot, does a very convincing job of showing the desperation in a young woman's personal search, Sonia, who embarks on a search for not only herself but also her place in the world -- for the duration of the film Renee gave Sonia the precise dignity and emotion that the role deserved.
The supporting cast were strong, Juliana Margulies certainly showing that she's doesn't always play the 'nice girl'. Christopher Eccleston was convincingly wicked and Glenn Fitzgerald puts in a credible performance as Mendel, the husband, capturing the essence of the role commendably.
Bordering sometimes on being a chick-flick, the movie generally deals with feminine issues, and I would think that the emotional dominion would have it seldom appeal to a male audience. Which is quite evident in the other belittling reviews here.
I recommend this film highly, although it is an intense one and perhaps not for every Joe Blogg. Make sure you're in the mood.
Movie Review: Not an easy movie to watch
Summary: 4 Stars
This was not an easy movie to watch. Simply because the idea of a Jewish brother in law complete with ultra Orthodox Jewish clothing, forcing his sister in law to have sex with him, turned my stomach. And the character Julianna Margulies plays which is a holier than thou, judgmental , Hasidic wife type is utterly convincing, but also the negative stereotype that many non Jews expect.
Renée Zellweger tries hard to make her character convincing, but her pouty face which has always bugged me, is distracting. In the end the movie shows that even in the ultra orthodox Jewish community which outsiders often see as mystical and odd, there are those who do the same awful things that the rest of society does.
Movie Review: What price is self worth?
Summary: 4 Stars
What journey this woman makes. I saw this film at a very difficult time in my life--at my own divorce. In many ways, Renée Zellweger's character may as well have been me. I cried rivers of tears. Her portrayal of strength, and her awakening self worth was such an inspiration to me. She gave up all she knew to be true to herself--a very high price that not all of us are willing to pay. Some of us prefer to stay on a life that is near hell, rather than trust ourselves. We must realize that we are all saints and sinners.Fabulous acting, a great score, and a wealth of three dimensional characters make this a film well worth owning. A real gem.