Keeping the Faith Review by Tim Wick
OK, today we are going to discuss why I am an awful movie critic.
You see my reasoning comes from the fact that I liked Keeping the Faith.
More than liked it, I loved it. I don't think I've seen a better movie so
far this year. Problem is that it's a predictable little romantic comedy
with very little new or interesting to say. So what? Why do we go to
movies? We go because they are an enjoyable way to pass the time. We go to
romantic comedies to watch people who are far better looking than ourselves
find themselves in a relationship far more perfect than any we could hope to
have (excepting of course my own beautiful wife Pat and myself - who are
happier than these movie couples could ever be) and they very nearly throw
it away, which is something we would never do. At horror films, we want to
shout "Don't go in there!". At a romantic comedy, we should
shout "Call her, you boob!".
I have read several reviews of this movie, some from critics that actually
liked it. Fact is that I find most critics too involved in the job of being
a critic to just say they enjoyed a movie. They have to find some way to
add a sort of extra layer of meaning to a film that doesn't really need one.
Try to find meaning in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Nazis suck? Harrison
Ford is cool? Bury things for a while and they are worth something? You
can't do it. The film is a wild ride with no aspirations to be nothing
more. Today's critics would say that Raiders "doesn't have anything
useful to say" or "treats Nazi's as comic relief when they were really very
dangerous". Get over yourselves!
I loved this movie and think you should see it. I'm going to use some
arguments of critics whom I think are completely wrong as a stepping off
point to explain why I liked the movie (I sure hope this is legal - you know
"fair use" and all).
Let's start with Lisa Schwartzbottom from Entertainment Weekly. I think
I mentioned in my review of Return to Me that if she doesn't like a movie,
there is a pretty good chance I will. Here's what she said: "
The unsettling conclusion to be drawn is that the truly devout (i.e.,
loving) man is the one willing to overturn deeply held principles and
responsibilities for the sake of romance, and that friends, family, and
flock are always willing to say amen in the name of happy endings and
ecumenical laughs. "
Here's the deal. This movie is about three people who are having a crisis
of faith. A priest who finds himself in love, a Rabbi who is in love with a
woman who is not Jewish and a very successful corporate executive who is
starting to question her choices in life. All three are forced to
reevaluate who they are and what they want to be. The movie does not take
these issues lightly, but it chooses not to deal with them in a heavy handed
manner that one would expect. It deals with issues of faith well and fairly
and it shows that choices are sometimes difficult, but the worst thing you
can do is avoid them.
And it's a romantic comedy. Apparently Lisa doesn't think a film can be
both. I'm cool with it.
Now, let's look at an excerpt from Roger Ebert's review.
I like how he writes
a review, even if I don't always agree with him. He liked this movie, but
misses something here:
Isn't it possible to write a movie in which Jake just plain loves Anna,
period--without making every visible Jewish girl obnoxious?
Roger, come on! The first date he goes on is played just for laughs, but
it's a romantic comedy! We forgive that. The second woman he goes out with
is a successful newscaster. You get the feeling that Jake (played by Ben
Stiller) would be all over her if he weren't already in love with another
woman.
Next, we'll look at something from Chris Hewitt, who reviews for the
St.
Paul Pioneer Press. Chris seems to me
like someone who doesn't really like movies. He just goes to see them
because it's his job.
For instance, whenever there's a movie about a woman so bewitching that two
men are in love with her, the movie is invariably -- and incorrectly --
about them instead of her.
WRONG! This movie is about faith and the obstacles that are placed in the
way of those people who are the most devout. Because of that it must focus
on the two men - the priest and the rabbi. They are the characters being
affected by the woman. Besides, it is about the dynamic between the three
of them. Anna (Jenna Elfman) is as important as the two men. She has a
successful career, but nothing else. In her own way, she is as much of a
spiritual leader as Jake and Brian (Edward Norton, who also directed). But
her relationship with Jake has her questioning her faith and spirituality as
much as Jake and Brian do. Come on, Chris! Do me a favor and actually
watch the movie before you review it!
Finally, we have Jeff Strickler from the Minneapolis Star/Tribune
. He liked it almost as much as me, but I have a beef with the
following:
Elfman sticks close to the perky character she plays on TV's Dharma and
Greg.
Clearly he has never seen Dharma and Greg or he would not say this.
Elfman plays a tough, sassy corporate executive. There is none of the
spacey innocence that is so much a part of her character on TV. Elfman is
great in this movie and I hope this role will get her more film roles in the
future.
Norton is also an actor to watch. If you have never seen American History
X, you should. It is not an easy film to watch, but Norton was rightly
nominated for an Oscar for his role in that film. His performance in that
movie is so far from his performance in this one that you wonder how it
could be the same guy. His first try at directing shows that he has a
future directing films if that is what he wants to do. About the only thing
I can find to say I didn't like about him in this movie is that he doesn't
make a very convincing drunk. Now I've said something some other critic can
disagree with - yipeee!!!!!
So my point is, ignore the critics. Ignore me. If this movie looks
interesting to you, go see it! I don't think you will be disappointed.
Man I wish I had half beakers! This is another four and a half that I will
have to rate as a four beaker film.
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