Walk on Water
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Movie Reviews of Walk on Water
Movie Review: Cool, intelligent, absorbing, moving
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is a neatly told and affecting story, focusing on a Mossad agent who begins to question the point of some of the missions he's been sent on. Lior Ashkenazi is excellent as Eyal, the agent in question. Ashkenazi is a remarkable actor in that although he looks stolid and boring in still photos, as soon as he's moving in front of a camera he's extraordinarily subtle and involving; he also bears a remarkable resemblance to British actor Clive Owen (Croupier), but for my money he's a better actor than Owen. Knut Berger and Catherine Peters are similarly excellent as the German brother and sister who start out as Eyal's marks but end up as his friends. The soundtrack is quirky and fun and the movie as a whole is a bit of a triumph, in that it can be enjoyed be people (such as my wife) who are not all that interested in Israel or the Middle East, but just like and appreciate a good movie.
I find it odd that the very small minority of nutcases who really hate this movie have a perception of it as a 'gay film'. I am a secular heterosexual film fan who has loved the work of gay filmmakers such as the UK's Derek Jarman, but while homosexuality is a theme in this film, it's hardly The Theme. Eytan Fox would go on to make 'Yossi and Jagger', about two male Israeli soldiers who fall in love with each other; I haven't seen it, but on the strength of this little gem I'll give it a go.
Movie Review: Walk on Water
Summary: 4 Stars
A year before Stephen Speilberg's overblown, albeit effective, "Munich," came a much smaller film exploring essentially the same moral dilemma - becoming that which we fight against - but with a less pessimistic outcome.
Eyal is an effective assassin, who loves his work, but enters a crisis in confidence when the tear-streaked face of his latest target's son imprints on his memory. The crisis is exacerbated when he finds his wife's body after her suicide in their bedroom, and reads the suicide note, the content of which comes into play throughout the movie.
Eyal's handler, Menachem, suspects his wavering resolve, but takes a hand in rehabilitating him by assigning him to an investigation that is off Mossad's books, but within its mission of hunting down Nazi war criminals. Eyal's vulnerable state allows him to connect with the grandchildren of the Nazi being hunted, resulting in his further humanization.
Although the plot plays out to a low-key, surprising, and totally apt conclusion the overall effect is slightly marred with a coda that is touching, but unnecessary.
All in all, though, this is a movie in which everything comes together: a believable script, detailed direction, and absolutely incredible casting in which every character seems right. It's only the coda that keeps me from giving it five stars.
Movie Review: Unusual Israeli Thriller
Summary: 4 Stars
An unusual spy thriller from Israel, Walk on Water's first scene follows Eyal (Lior Ashkenazi, a fine and handsome actor, somewhat reminiscent of Clive Owen, and who played a quite different character in the comedy Late Marriage), a tough-minded Mossad agent, as he coolly kills a Hamas operative in Istanbul in front of his family. Soon after returning from this mission, though, his wife commits suicide, so his superiors decide to give him what looks like a light assignment: posing as the tour guide of a couple of German tourists (a brother and sister) in order to become friendly with them and find out if they know about the whereabouts of their grandfather (a former nazi, who is presumably still living in Argentina). As it happens, the Germans are very different in their outlook from Eyal - they are liberal types who want to understand why Palestinian terrorists are willing to blow themselves to pieces - this humanization of the Palestinians infuriates the tough Sabra. The Germans are different in another way - the brother is gay, in contrast with the very macho Eyal, and much is made in the movie about their uneasy relationship. The final act of the movie, as Eyal goes to Germany to deal with their grandfather is more contrived, less believable, but the movie overall is highly entertaining and thought provoking.Movie Review: Mel Gibson, Where Are You?
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, this film is annoyingly predictable. Yes, it has all the politically correct sentimentality that has made movie-going such a bore, but in the end the film says something and says it well. If Mel Gibson had been in the lead, I predict it would have been a blockbuster. Instead, it is a quiet, decent little morality play. The gayness of the brother seems gratuitous, and leads nowhere, but it is not as offensive as others have suggested and it does not spin the movie in a new direction as one might have anticipated. Instead, the issue is brought up and then disappears, creating a sub theme of no consequence. One was waiting for something connecting gender and morality, possibly undermining our notions of masculinity and morality, but this is dropped. The main theme of guilt and dread and forgiveness plays out toward an end that works. I happen to think that the central plot really works, although it does depend on the obtuseness and naivete of the brother who never suspects the Mossad agent, although his clever mother has her suspicions right away. The acting is absolutely acceptable if not thrilling and we can thank our lucky starts that the thing was not ruined by Hollywood hype. Instead, all creative parties concerned can take pride in having fashioned a nice little morality play for our time.Movie Review: A Little Walk on the Water Will Clear Your Mind...
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie belongs to Lior as Eyal. The camera loved him and he loved the camera. His expression's ran the gambit of emotions, so subtle, yet so decisive , you had no trouble knowing just how he felt. His defending his disgust of the suicide bombers. And his complete lack of knowledge of how homo's get together, Very funny scene. The Mossad has found out that Axel's grandfather is still alive and have put Eyal as a tourist guide to find any information regarding the grandfathers where about's. Eyal is to assassinate him for his war crimes.
Eytan Fox has another award winning movie under his belt. The first was ('Yossi and Jagger ' a brief love story about two officer's in the service ), it ended too soon.
Knut Berger did an excellent job as the homosexual brother of Pia who has come to Israel to work on a Kibbutz . Axel , has come to Israel to bring Pia back home for their fathers birthday, but Pia has split with her parents when she found out that her Nazi grandfather is still alive in Argentina. Eyal and Axel tour around Israel and a bound develop's. You will not want to miss this movie as the acting of all is very good , the music and cinematography are great. And Lior's dry sense of humor is very funny. I give this great little indie flick 4/5 or 8/10 star's ciao yaaah69