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Everything is Illuminated - movie review

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Everything is IlluminatedNetflix description is:

A young American Jewish man begins an exhausting quest -- aided by a naïve Ukranian translator -- to find the righteous gentile woman who saved his grandfather when his small Ukranian village (along with most of the populace) was obliterated during the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941. Stars Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz and Boris Leskin. Liev Schreiber directs. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.

I found this movie because Eugene Hutz is in it and I love his band Gogol Bordello.  So I decided to check this out and I really liked it.  It was made in 2006.  The beginning is a bit slow, but once the main characters get together it is quite funny and often sweet.  The characters are all quirky in their own way, which is enjoyable.  The acting was great and understated.  It was beautifully shot and the use of color is outstanding.  Just a good, quiet, funny movie.  The end was a bit overdone, but still good.

The grandfather, who believes he is blind, agrees to drive this American around looking for his past only if his seeing eye dog can come along.  Without her, of course, he cannot drive as she is his eyes.  His grandson, the translator, who loves American hip hop and Michael Jackson, says maybe they should make her a uniform so she'll look more official.  The dog herself, Sammy Davis Jr. Jr., is seemingly insane and not really very nice.  Our vegetarian American on a quest collects many odd items from his and his family members' lives... and of course is afraid of dogs.

My favorite line was when Eugene Hutz, who was the translator for the (vegetarian) American was trying to get the inn keeper to serve him something without meat.  He finally resorted to "The American is deranged.  Can you please just give him the potato without the meat." 

Officious Seeing Eye Bitch

 

Chris

Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Chris,  Thanks for the recommendation!  I'll check it out!  Have a great night! 
Apr 23, 2008 01:35 PM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Thanks Susan, I hope you like it.  It was a quirky little comedy/drama that I quite enjoyed!

Chris

Apr 23, 2008 04:09 PM
Vicente A. Martinez
Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson - Woodhaven, NY
Realtor, Brooklyn - Long Island - Queens Homes
Hi Chris. I think I'm going to like this one. Thanks for the review... I'll definitely check it out.
Apr 23, 2008 06:20 PM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL
Chris, thanks for the review, we will have to check out this movie.   I love the dog pix!
Apr 23, 2008 11:36 PM
Bonnie & Terry Westbrook
Westbrook Realty - Ada, MI
Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
It sounds right up my alley.  I'll try to get it and see it soon. Thanks for the review!
Apr 24, 2008 05:20 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Vincent, Debra & Bonnie - I hope you like it.  The dog is actually great in the movie. 

Chris

Apr 24, 2008 05:46 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Chris, Thank you, it's always good to have recommendations; I don't rent that often so when I do I'd like to see something good :)
Apr 24, 2008 10:40 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Carole - I hope this counts as good in your book then!

Apr 24, 2008 12:01 PM
Marey Hoeppner
Kalamazoo, MI
Your Success Is Our Goal!
Ok Chris, I am going to have to watch this movie.    Thanks for giving us the review.. like that last photo of that dog btw!  lol Or maybe it's the shirt the dog is wearing!
Apr 25, 2008 01:08 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Hi Marey - Yes the dog is cute and deranged.  The shirt is his uniform!  lol.  You can watch this after Star Trek 4.  lol

Apr 25, 2008 04:02 AM
Marey Hoeppner
Kalamazoo, MI
Your Success Is Our Goal!
Chris, your not right!!!! You just had to throw Star Trek into it didn't ya? lol Hmmpf
Apr 25, 2008 04:12 AM
Sarah Nopp
South Sound, WA
I was just referred this movie- spefically because of the Seeing Eye Bitch thing LOL Time to put it on my queue.
Apr 27, 2008 06:00 PM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

I think you will enjoy the Seeing Eye Bitch.  She's quite demented.  But cute!

Apr 28, 2008 05:11 AM