Jakob the Liar (1999) User Reviews

Dark comedy, with an appropriately surreal ending

[Transit · 7/10 · 14 October 1999]

What I like about Jakob's tale is that Jakob is no natural hero who sets out to keep hope alive. Far from it. He is an ordinary man, and as terrified of the Nazis as any of his neighbors in the ghetto. He blunders his way into his unlikely role as a keeper of hope, and once there, cannot see from moment to moment how he can maintain it, wishes at times he could be rid of the burden, and yet somehow, manages to continue to inspire others who are so desperate for hope, they don't even try to disbelieve. In short, don't be fooled by the title: Jakob is just this guy; plotwise, he is only a hub around which a large wheel turns.

There were parts that didn't work for me, especially pieces where narration would have worked better than a character monologue (Jakob is a narrator as well as a character, so why does he talk to himself instead of us so much?) But on the whole, it was a good story, well performed by those involved.

The ending, which I shall refrain from describing for the benefit of any who have not seen it, is absolutely fitting. It is surreal, which may bother some, but leaves the door open to so many interpretations that you will wonder whether to take it as the true end, or whether it was Jakob's final lie. And fittingly, the decision is left in the mind of the viewer.

Testifying To The Power Of Hope

[sddavis63 · 7/10 · 29 December 2001]

Over the years, I have found Robin Williams to be one of the most frustrating actors around. Clearly loaded with talent, in my opinion at least most of his movies have been disappointments. He either gives unnecessarily over-the-top performances that really don't fit the context, or he controls his natural comedic instincts to the point at which he comes across as uninspired. So I wasn't sure what to expect in "Jakob the Liar." What I found was a surprisingly good performance in a wonderful movie.

Williams plays Jakob Heym, confined to the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw by the Nazis during the Second World War. With hope fading, Heym accidentally discovers that Russian troops aren't far away, and begins to spread the news. Others become convinced that he has a radio hidden, and Heym's fictional "news reports" from the BBC provide enough hope to keep the residents of the Ghetto going through this dark time.

Williams (also executive producer) did a fine job as Heym. As one would expect, his character comes across as something of a comedian ("I believe we're God's Chosen People; I just wish He had chosen someone else!") but his humour is appropriate; the sort of dark humour one would expect from people in this situation. The other performances faded into the background, not because they were bad but because Williams so dominated the movie. Special mention should go to Justus von Dohnanyi, though, who played the Nazi Commandant "Preuss." Dohnanyi manages to capture exactly the sort of slimy, inhuman character one would expect to be put in charge of such a business. The rest of the cast (primarily Hannah Taylor-Gordon as Lina and Liev Schreiber as Mischa) are good, but overshadowed by Williams.

The character of Kirschbaum (played by Armin Mueller-Stahl) filled me with sadness and represents a clear statement of the evils of Nazism. A world-famous cardiologist, Kirschbaum, because he is Jewish, is forbidden to practice medicine, and ends up cleaning toilets. Mueller-Stahl plays the character with a quiet dignity, and next to Williams is the clear highlight of the movie.

This movie represents a wonderful testimony to the importance of hope in helping people see themselves through what must seem to be impossible situations. Although fictional, it is an important movie for those with an interest in the events of this era.

7/10

Engrossing tale of hope kept alive in a wartime Jewish ghetto

[roghache · 8/10 · 22 April 2006]

Personally, I found very touching & heart wrenching this story of one man's efforts to lift spirits in a World War II Jewish ghetto in Poland. Many have compared it to Life is Beautiful, and there are some similarities. I can understand why some viewers take offense at any film which might seem to trivialize the Holocaust, but I found Life is Beautiful not disrespectful but deeply moving, and consider this particular tale to be a captivating depiction of one individual's unique attempt to keep hope alive in a desperate situation.

The story revolves around a lonely Polish shopkeeper & widower, Jakob, who is confined to a Jewish ghetto in 1944. When summoned to ghetto headquarters for being out after curfew, he hears a radio report about Russian troop movements. To prevent a friend's suicide, he claims to have heard on his radio that the Russians are very close (within a few hundred kilometers) and will liberate the ghetto soon, causing rumours that Jakob has a secret radio. Instead of telling the truth, he tries to lift spirits and impart hope to the war weary & depressed ghetto inhabitants by maintaining the fiction of possessing this radio, and regularly disseminating uplifting fictional news bulletins about the Allies' progress. Meanwhile, Jakob is also hiding a young Jewish girl who escaped from a camp transport. The Germans hear reports of this forbidden radio and are seeking out the resistance operator of it.

Robin Williams dominates this movie and is brilliant as usual in the endearing, sympathetic role of the kind Jakob who must try to balance getting out lots of hopeful (if fictitious) war reports to keep spirits up while at the same time avoid Nazi suspicion and detection.

The movie portrays the despair of the ghetto's inhabitants and the grave injustice of their captive state. For example, Jewish people are prohibited from practicing medicine and a cardiologist is reduced to cleaning toilets, though does so with good humour, grace, and dignity. On the whole it is a very poignant tale, with any humour having a sad note to it. Jakob the Liar shows another tragic aspect of the Holocaust. Rather than the horrors of the concentration camps that are often the setting of such stories, here we see the injustice and despair of prolonged ghetto captivity.

Excellent Entertainment

[SampsonBlack · 27 October 2004]

If you are interested in the holocaust, and want to be entertained at the same time, Jakob the Liar is your film. This is not intended to be an historical film. And, to be sure, it isn't.

Just speaking for myself, I wish everyone would educate themselves about this horrible episode in human history. If you have a friend who refuses to watch honest historical films, turn them on to Jakob the Liar. It IS Robin Williams, after all. For sure, this film will encourage them to learn more about the holocaust. Its very entertaining and does give some superficial insight into what the atrocity was all about.

Robin Williams did his best. He did a fine job in this film, and deserves even more credit just for making the attempt. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it an 8.

Another solid performance by Robin Williams!

[yossarian100 · 7/10 · 2 March 2004]

Don't be put off by the negative comments. If you like the characters Robin Williams creates, and you like unusual dramas, you'll like Jakob the Liar. The film wanted to be Roberto Benigni and Life is Beautiful but never seemed to have the courage to go there, even with Robin Williams in the lead, until the last few scenes of the movie. However, being another Life is Beautiful is asking an awful lot. Life is Beautiful is one of the great films of all time. Having said that, Jakob the Liar is fiendishly good, creatively done, and Robin Williams does a fine job, even when Hannah Taylor-Gordon, who plays Lina, wasn't stealing every scene she was in. So, settle down and give this little movie a try. If nothing else, it's another solid performance by Robin Williams.

Robin Williams' List

[sticky-4 · 7/10 · 19 October 1999]

Perhaps best described as Good Morning Vietnam meets Schindler's List. Robin Williams plays Jakob, a Jewish prisoner in WW2 Germany who hears some news about the approaching Russian army, and lets it slip to his friend Mischa who believes Jakob has a radio to have gotten this news. Rumors then spread throughout the Jewish ghetto and soon everyone believes he has a radio, so he decides to make up news in order to give them some sense of hope in this holocaust. It's important to note that Williams is NOT trying to be funny in this film, which is appropriate considering the setting. Well written and produced with noteworthy performances

Worth a look for an underappreciated performance by Williams and some great supporting cast work

[sllanso · 7/10 · 14 August 2000]

I won't repeat the plot as many other comments have taken care of that. Many of Robin Williams' performances have been Robin Williams playing a character -- there's a wink and a hint that he'll bust out with some shtick at any time. He (or the director, or both) contain that impulse to an impressive degree in this movie and do so without the excessive sincerity that Williams often substitutes for emotion in his other parts. (Good Will Hunting contains an overrated performance of this type.) Example: in the scene where he takes on the voices of Churchill, Stalin, and others, it's wholly within his character's desire to persuade the little girl (who's wonderfully played, by the way) that hope remains. I agree that some of the actors, notably Alan Arkin, aren't very good, but other, less-well-known ones support the movie well. In addition, I thought the production design, cinematography, and editing were thoughtful and well-done. And I liked the ending...

532nd Review: Comedy & The Holocaust: In the long tradition of Jewish humor

[intelearts · 7/10 · 21 March 2013]

Jakob the Liar features a good straight-up performance by Robin Williams and a terrific supporting cast, but more than that it is a surprisingly complex film that reflects many of the classic traits of Yiddish humor. In Yiddish humor, the shtetl, or classic village, as immortalized in the wonderful stories of Sholomon Aleichem (think Fiddler on the Roof and Tevya, which is a direct adaptation from Aleichem's tales) are full of set characters - and they are here - the Professor is like the Rebbe, Jakob is a schnorre (someone who loves to get things for free) who becomes the mensch (the upstanding man), and so on.

Of all the films in the Holocaust corpus this is one of the few that reflects with fantasy and imagination and humor what suffering means in Jewish culture. One can argue that films about the Holocaust necessarily are depressing (or must have that Hollywood lift of hope - why?! - there was no hope) - but here there is a genuine attempt to speak into the culture of Ghetto Judaism and refer back to Aleichem's wonderful mix of family, suffering, and laughter.

The film is not wholly successful - the humour is wry, but it never quite gets to the sorrow in it, and replaces that with genuine sorrow. However it defies our norms of this style of film and as such, very correctly, challenges our notions and images of daily life outside the camps.

All in all this rewards viewing at a deeper level than simply a man who invents a radio to give others hope - it is a real reflection of pre-war Judaic humor and as such is a very worthwhile attempt to preserve the deeper meaning of a Jewish understanding that humor is one of the better ways, and sometimes the only way, to cope when darkness falls.

Robin Williams should really stick to more serious roles like this.

[Anonymous_Maxine · 9/10 · 9 February 2004]

I was completely stunned at how well Robin Williams pulled off more serious dramatic roles, since he's much more well-known for high-energy comedy. But his roles as the bad guy in movies like Insomnia or, even better, One Hour Photo display the extent of his acting abilities, since he is able to pull off such different characters so well. In Jakob the Liar, his comedic talents are restricted just enough so that he is able to function properly within the atmosphere of the movie, but is still allowed a scene or two in which his ability to get laughs can come out. He plays Jakob, a Jewish shopkeeper in a Nazi ghetto who tells a friend that he has a radio in order to prevent that friend from committing suicide.

Things do not appear to be going well within the ghetto, the war seems like it will never end, and morale among the imprisoned Jews is steadily waning, resulting in suicides left and right. As Jakob finds a friend of his doing something that will certainly get him killed by the Nazis (this particular friend decided to make a ham-handed attempt at escape rather than overtly kill himself), Jakob runs to him and tells him that he heard on the radio that the Russians were closing in and would liberate them any day. His skeptical friend doubts him, so Jakob quickly tells him that he has a radio so that he will believe the Russians will be there to save them all soon, and his friend's suicide is prevented.

By the next morning, literally everyone in the ghetto knows that Jakob Heym has a radio, and so he is venerated like a God and constantly hounded about what the newest news is, and thus enters the main conflict of the movie. And speaking of which, one of the things that I really liked about the movie was the complexity of its conflict. It's a conflict that you sit there knowing what needs to happen for a happy ending and so you sit there and hope for that, because every option has terrible consequences.

Jakob, first and foremost, is absolutely terrified that word will reach the Nazis who will execute him if they discover he has a radio (whether he really has it or not), yet at the same time he can't let it get out within the ghetto that he DOESN'T have a radio, because since the whole rumor began the rampant suicides have completely ceased. What he has to do, then, is walk the fine line between delivering lots of fictitious good news to the whole ghetto without letting the Nazis find out about it.

There is definitely something that needs to be said about the importance of a movie like this. Obviously, holocaust movies are nothing new, and different depictions of the holocaust have been especially in the spotlight since Roberto Benigni made a holocaust movie called Life Is Beautiful in 1997, at least half of which was a comedy. A lot of people felt that it was distasteful to present something as serious and tragic as the holocaust in such a light. And not just average moviegoers like me, either. Spielberg thought it was too lighthearted for such weighty subject matter, and from a certain point of view, he's right. On the other hand, however, the fact that you laughed during the film does not change the meaning of the war that it focuses on. The Nazis killed funny people, too.

I read a review on the title page for Jakob the Liar here on the IMDb, where a reviewer who completely missed the boat on this movie criticized it for things like the comedic content, the behavior and presentation of the Jews of the ghetto, and the choice of Robin Williams for the role of Jakob Heym. To be perfectly honest, I can never understand people like that. The way I see it, as long as a movie takes the holocaust seriously then it should not be criticized for being a holocaust film that's not in the right format or that had an actor who has done too many comedy roles. This same reviewer, by the way, praised Life Is Beautiful, a spectacular film, as is Jakob the Liar.

I can certainly understand that there are people who are touchy about the holocaust. It is inarguably one of the most tragic events in all of recorded human history, made even more tragic by the fact that it was perpetrated by humans against other humans. It's sickening. But there are no jokes about the holocaust in Jakob the Liar. The Jews do not act like victims. It is historically accurate and does not compromise the truth of what happened for the sake of entertainment. It presents a story of a ghetto full of captive Jews who have had their lives stolen from them and are desperate for some hope, and one man tries to help and inadvertently finds himself in a position to provide massive amounts of hope to them, but at massive risk to his own safety.

So if you don't like to see Robin Williams playing serious, dramatic roles (roles at which he is increasingly displaying his massive talent ), don't watch the movie! It is neither a secret that Williams is in the movie, nor that it's a serious role. One look at the cover box will tell you that. But if it's the holocaust being taken seriously that troubles you, maybe you should be more concerned about the fact that there are people, alive TODAY, here in the 21st Century, and presumably relatively educated American citizens, who DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE HOLOCAUST EVER EVEN HAPPENED. So like I said, if you're that concerned about the portrayal of the holocaust, maybe focus your efforts on these nutcases who have convinced themselves that the holocaust itself is just a fable. Maybe a myth that mothers started telling their kids to make them scared of Germans or some other such nonsense.

Jakob the Liar has no illusions, it takes a tragedy in human history and tells a story of a man who did what he could to help those suffering around him, and Robin Williams should obviously be commended for the power of his performance, as should the rest of the cast. The thing to keep in mind is that there is no certain perspective from which to view things like the holocaust. Everyone has different thoughts and feelings about it, and in the movies these different perspectives can be provided in different ways without compromising the severity and finality of the event itself. Jakob the Liar does not at all trivialize the holocaust in any way, what it does is honor the loss of its victims, who came from all walks of life.

A Holocaust film with an original storyline.

[LordDynamo · 7/10 · 3 August 2012]

There are two reasons that lead me to watch this film:

Firstly, it is a Holocaust film; the Holocaust is a period in history that had a huge impact on me.

Secondly, it features my favourite actor and actress in the world: the great Robin Williams & the wonderful Hannah Taylor Gordon. I have admired these two for years and to have two of your fave actors in one film is a very rare treat. The scenes with the two of them together are heartwarming.

Williams plays Jakob Heynn, one of the hundreds of Jewish people living in a Polish ghetto in 1944, during World War II. After hearing radio broadcast announcing the Russians' approach, he tells of the possible end of the war, leading the ghetto inhabitants to believe he possesses a "hidden radio". This leads to him having to tell false rumours, thus increasing the hope of the inhabitants of the ghetto.

It certainly feels odd to hearing Williams speak in a different accent, I can tell you. His performance, all the same, is as good as ever. Hannah Taylor Gordon, who plays the little girl who hides in Jakob's apartment, is just so lovely in her role. Having watched her stunning performance as Anne Frank in "Anne Frank: The Whole Story" previously, I have always admired Taylor Gordon, so to see her in this is, to me, a real marvel.

The supporting cast also offers a great performance. It all makes this film that much inviting to watch.

There is, of course, quite a bit of tragedy in this film. But, seeing as it is set during the Holocaust, that is to be expected. It's a way of showing respect to the memory of it all. If you don't like tragic scenes, let alone tragic films, then maybe this isn't for you. However, there is some humour in it, thanks to Williams.

So, all in all, I'd say this film is one I'd recommend. It certainly has an original storyline and the whole thing offers a heartwarming experience.

worst remake ever! they just not get it

[strange-world · 1/10 · 25 July 2007]

this has to be the worst remake ever. It's not only Robin Williams, he's just bad as usual. They just changed the most powerful scene from the 1975 original by Frank Beyer.

SPOILER ahead When Lina discovers that Jakob has no radio at all, she prolongs his lie, so that he can still believe in it too. In this disgraceful remake, she goes to him and dances with him. They just don't get the message of the book by Jurek Becker.

I can't understand this. So leave this one alone and watch "Jakob der Lügner", by the way the only movie from the former GDR ever to be nominated for an Oscar as best foreign language film.

Excellent

[Lindy-24 · 10/10 · 26 September 1999]

I read the reviews and was a little hesitant to go see this movie. Not very good reviews. But after seeing the movie, I can't understand why the critics didn't like it. Guess they want Robin Williams to stay in his mold as a comedian. I've seen him in his recent serious roles, and I think he is an excellent drama actor. I think he has come a long way since Mork and Mindy. This movie was very good. It is a movie about the holocaust in Poland. It takes place in the ghetto and tells of a used to be restaurant owner who here's some propaganda on the radio (in the gestapos office) and ends up telling lies to boost his fellow mans moral. I don't want to go into detail to much cuz it would spoil the movie for you. Also, he meets a little girl who escaped from a train to the camps and befriends Jakob who takes her in and takes care of her. They have a very cute relationship. All in all I thought this movie was very well done and portrayed the holocaust in a very realistic way. The cast was very good..........you must go see this movie!!!!

something different

[kriszti-83949 · 7/10 · 10 June 2018]

I liked this movie, especially the performance of Robin Williams. He appeared very authentic in the role of a person who is pushed into a series of very tricky situations which he tries to manage the best of his knowledge. What I didn't like though that was the Hungarian cast. I found Peter Rudolf's acting simply annoying. His whole acting and the way he spoke was exaggerated and irritating. Janos Kulka wasn't that bad, but to be honest I don't understand why they had to be a part of this movie in the first place. Well, anyway they don't appear too often in the film to ruin it entirely and the other characters were well enough to make them forgettable. It's a film worth seeing and its music is pretty good too.

A story poorly told

[FlickJunkie-2 · 4/10 · 23 March 2000]

This remake of the 1974 film by the same name draws obvious comparisons to `Life is Beautiful', but it is a poor substitute in every regard. This film sometimes tries to be `Hogan's Hero's' in its farcical sendup of German captivity and at other times it tries to be `Schindler's List' with disturbing portrayals of the inhumanity of the holocaust. Unlike `Life is Beautiful' which was a bittersweet story lovingly done, this story is merely distasteful and makes a mockery of the plight of the Jews in captivity during WWII. It portrays the citizens of the ghetto as bumbling idiots with little regard for the gravity of their situation. A holocaust story is no place for Keystone Cops comedy skits.

Director Peter Kassovitz gives us nothing distinctive from a visual standpoint, nor does he bring forth the proper tone and mood from the actors. The acting is uniformly mediocre. Alan Arkin has given us numerous excellent performances, but his character was so insubstantial and inane, it was difficult for him not to look foolish. Liev Schreiber, as Mischa, made the character into a complete buffoon (perhaps that is what Kassovitz intended).

Finally, Robin Williams needs to seek career counseling. He keeps taking these poignant comedic roles that are just not right for his talents. He needs to realize his limitations and embrace his genius. He is incomparable in frenetic, over the edge comedic roles that require quick witted ad libs and shock comedy. As a serious actor he is simply unexceptional and his attempts at such are especially disappointing when compared against his true ability.

I rated this film a 4/10. If it was a holocaust story that needed to be told, it certainly needed to be told differently.

Jakob tries to give us hope by making up the happy ending

[Vladimir_Grozescu · 9 June 2002]

First thing...

People who say the ending is too sentimental and sappy don't understand! Sadly, it's not happy like many believe. In Jakob's final narration, he was trying to instill hope in the viewers just like he did with his people when he falsely said he had the radio. This is evident when he says, "Or MAYBE..." He made many of the hopeful things up throughout the movie, so that's why I think he made up the happy ending.

Now to the review...

A very good movie. It seems overlong at times, but the wonderful performance of Robin Williams as Jakob held my interest very much. This is a dreary, depressing film, and hardly has any humor. The type of humor found in this movie is extremely dry, and isn't for everyone (I know it isn't my type). As for the cinematography, well, it was wonderful. There's not much color in this film, only drab and soft brown, black and gray tones, which add to the atmosphere of sadness. Overall, a very effective film.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

It's biggest crime was it came AFTER La Vita E Bella

[medrjel · 6/10 · 30 October 2003]

I heard a lot of critics complain about this movie. I absolutely liked this film. However, it had 2 major failings:

1) It was a remake of a East German classic that was award-worthy, and had a high standard to the art film critics.

2) A Beautiful Life (La vita E Bella) had won best picture accolades 1 year earlier, and the stories have many similarities.

Neither of these are the fault of the movie. They were just 2 insurmountable odds it had to fight. For that reason, the movie failed miserably.

However, it really is a good movie. I can't speak for the original version, but I can say that while this movie was good, it's just not great.

Robin Williams does a great job as the reluctant "hero" and the supporting cast was solid. When Robin is controlled in his performance, he can really shine and this definitely shows you what is to come from him in the near future for dramatic roles. There is still some humor, but it's directed and not totally off the wall.

If you are interested in this era of history, I would recommend this movie.

I'd rather see the original

[michaelf · 7/10 · 29 September 1999]

This is not a bad remake of a 1974 East German film of the same name. "Jakob the Liar" is better than average, and has some strong moments primarily due to some semi-autobiographical elements added by director Peter Kassovitz.

But the film does drag in parts. Robin Williams is not the best choice for the lead role, although he does give an adequate performance.

Although the remake does stand on its own, I do remember the original version has having a stronger emotional impact. The original was also the forerunner of such German-made WWII and Holocaust films as, "The Tin Drum," "Europa, Europa," "The Nasty Girl," and "My Mother's Courage." Rather than remake it, I wish the original "Jakob the Liar" had been re-released.

Not great but watchable.

[PWNYCNY · 7/10 · 21 April 2008]

It's easy to rag this movie as being just another Holocaust movie with corny, improbable and fantastically unrealistic plot which glosses over the horrors of the Holocaust and minimizes the suffering of its victims. But ... BUT ... this is still a good movie. Robin Williams gives one of his better performances as a Jew who tries to instill hope in an otherwise seemingly hopeless situation. True the film offers a stagy and almost romanticized version of life in a Jewish ghetto in World War Two, but the film includes some harrowing scenes of the Germans rounding up the Jews as well as other abuses which remind the audience of the criminal nature of the Nazi German regime. It's not a great movie but it's still watchable.

A surprising feature of this movie is how Robin Williams is made to look like a downtrodden Jew. He not only acts the role, he looks it too. Also there is a poignancy in this film which may seem out of place for such an otherwise depressing setting and the inclusion of the ten-year-old girl is an obvious contrivance, but still the movie is good and avoids the pitfall of trivializing the horrible conditions that so many innocent people were forced to suffer. One can only imagine the utter despair of the ghetto victims, made worse by their isolation. This movie dramatizes what happens when the people are given hope, no matter how slim. It kept them alive.

Not great

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 28 September 2000]

I thought this film would be better than it turned out to be. Not that it was bad. It is worth a look if your fliping channels and click on Cinemax. Just don't go running to rent this. It is a remake of the 1975 film (from a novel by Jurek Becker) about a Jewish person in a ghetto who finds some information about the war, and soon, it spreads and it gets exaggerated that he has a radio. This person is Jakob Heym (played with a certain degree of credibility by Robin Williams) who used to be a deli owner, but now is all alone, and finds a lost Jewish girl in the process. A little annoying (considering the 1998 masterpiece La Vita E Bella or Life is Beautiful) in parts, but overall, it pulls through as a dark dramdey about ghetto life and the hopes that sparkel with lies. Not williams best work though, despite a valiant effort. B

Misconceptions?

[Weebette · 10/10 · 25 September 1999]

Maybe the reason I keep hearing so many negative comments on this film is because people aren't seeing it for what it is. It is not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination. It is not an attempt to profit from LA VITA E BELLA (this was filmed in the autumn of '97, before the Benigni film was even released in Italy).

The truth is, JAKOB THE LIAR is an incredible film in its own right. I've read/seen many other Holocaust testimonials (including MAUS and the aforementioned LA VITA E BELLA), but this was by far the most stirring of any of them. I was especially impressed by Robin Williams' performance. Granted, I'm partial to him, but I was completely bowled over by this performance. I believe this is the darkest and most serious role he has ever done, but he pulls it off magnificently.

Don't believe the nay-sayers on this one ... this is incredible. It's a must-see for everyone. Would I lie to you?

Great mixture of comedy and intense drama! 7/10

[leonblackwood · 7/10 · 2 October 2014]

Review: I really enjoyed this movie. The storyline was fresh and very well directed and all of the actors made the film seem real and intense. It was amazing how a little lie, spiralled completely out of control and changed many people's life's. It brought hope to many people at a time when no one had any happiness in there life's. When everyone demands to see this radio, that completely didn't exist, Robin Williams lies get out of hand, to the point were it ends up destroying life's and causes trouble with his friends and love ones. You can't help feeling sorry for the main character who started out with good intentions but he really couldn't foresee the problems that the lie would cause. Anyway, the mixed emotions throughout the movie was very well thought through and really entertaining. I know that I'm a bit late with seeing this film, but I'm glad that I added it to my rental list because it would have been a shame if it passed me by. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: This is yet another movie which shows Robin Williams in a different light. He used his comedic talent to bring a form of light to a terrible situation and the chemistry between all of the characters was brilliant. It seemed like all of the actors were long time friends which is why the film seemed so real. It might be the delicate subject matter, why the movie really bombed at the box office, or it might be the distribution which needed some more money behind it, but it is definitely under rated and it deserves a re-release after his sad passing.

Budget: $45million Domestic Gross: $5million (Terrible!)

I recommend this movie to people who are into there intense drama/comedies lie that spirals completely out of control and ends up destroying life's. 7/10

Comedy in the Ghetto? Oy Vey!

[sbox · 3/10 · 16 May 2000]

WARNING: May Contain Spoilers.

What's next for Robin Williams? How about, "Throttle Up," in which Williams plays a slapstick NASA engineer on the day that shuttle Challenger blows up? Doesn't sound like a good idea, does it?

Well neither does "Jakob the Liar."

This tale may have made it if it were approached in the same vein as Bill Murray's, "The Razor's Edge." In that film, we saw a comedic giant act in a purely dramatic role. While no box office success, it was a good film.

The problem with, "Jakob" is that drama is often sacrificed for really senseless and unfunny comedy. These scenes are accompanied by stereotypical music that reminds the audience the ghetto community is jewish. DUH! To make matters worse, several of the American cast members, drift in and out of ridiculous accents.

Unfortunately it doesn't end here. One of the characters in the ghetto happens upon a pistol. One would think the film would triumph his incredible luck. Oh no, the politically correct crowd who makes movies these days, had to impose nineties' anti gun fervor on the ghetto victims of the forties. It seems if you ever needed a gun, it just might be at the moment you are about to be hauled off to a death camp in a cattle car!

In sum, "Jakob the Liar" is a film made in incredibly poor taste. There were some good parts, but I refuse to discuss them.

great story

[action_man_am · 8/10 · 28 January 2005]

This movie is a great mix of history and humour, which Robin Williams delivers brilliantly. Set in late 1944, it tells the story of a Jew living in his hometown that the Germans have taken control of. When he is sent to a German officer's office for being out after curfew he hears a report that the Russians are heading in his towns direction and thinks they may free him and his town from the Germans. The next day he tells his friend what he heard, in confidence, but doesn’t believe Jakob heard it on a German radio and believes Jakob has his own radio (Jew's were forbidden to own or listen to radio's, and rarely return from German office's,). Once the rumour spreads that the Russian's are coming and that Jakob has a radio, the town keeps asking for more Information. Jakob has to make up information since no one believes he doesn’t have a radio and the information brings the Jew's hope. Meanwhile Jakob has taken in a little Jewish girl who has escaped form a train heading to the gas "showers" and must also keep hidden from the Germans. Just a great story of Jewish life in the war without to much war violence.

Heroes come from all races, and don't always bang the drum loudly.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 17 December 2022]

A fabulous ensemble surrounds the always excellent Robin Williams In this World War II drama that will not perfect is certainly engrossing in many ways. Williams doesn't escape from his typical schtick, but is extremely subtle for most of the time playing the complicated role of a Jewish shopkeeper accused of causing trouble in the Warsaw ghetto when in reality, he is helping his people out more than they believe. As a caretaker of a young girl, Williams is a loving foster father, even though his people believe that he's a traitor to them. Much of what he does puts his life in jeopardy from both his own people and the Nazis, but basically he's a tragic distraction, obviously willing to die if he can save others.

Standing out in this beautifully filmed period drama are Alan Arkin, Hannah Taylor Gordon, Hannah Taylor Gordon and Liev Schreiber, with a moving script and type direction aiding in making this complicated story make sense. There have been better movies made about the Holocaust, but this is more of a personal story than a war film, focusing more on character than a strong plot. It's easy to get engrossed in stories like this when there is a hero as special as Jakkob. Williams was a clown who could often break your heart, and he shows with dramas like this the heart behind the sadness, the man with so much laughter to give that when he took on a serious part, you could put aside the clown and see not just the actor but the character that made it appear that he was not acting.

Depressing. There is No Lying About That.

[anaconda-40658 · 5/10 · 6 November 2015]

Jakob the Liar (1999): Dir: Peter Kossovitz / Cast: Robin Williams, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Bob Balaban, Liev Schreiber, Hannah Taylor- Gordon: Robin Williams plays Jakob who stares everyday at the wall lined with barbwire. It is 1944 and Germans have captured his Polish village. Central plot regards how he gave hope to people by lying. They believe that he owns a radio when in fact he does not. Fine setup marred by useless subplots including one of a young girl. Others may argue whether or not the ending is appropriate or just plain contrived. Director Peter Kossovitz brings insight into the material although the use of humour is distracting. William seems to be playing his usual form of comic overplay where the film plays off sincerity within contrivance. Armin Mueller-Stahl plays the brave and wise doctor. Bob Balaban plays a barber and Liev Schreiber plays a boxer. With the exception of Schreiber these roles are mere cardboard and contain about as much life as a barbwire fence. Schreiber as the boxer at least carries on the rumors believing them as fact while pursuing the hand of a young woman. Had these characters not been presented with extreme comic overtones then perhaps we could get behind them. The film is technically well made but does not involve us as perhaps it should. It presents a strong message of hope within a film that is simply hopeless. Score: 5 ½ / 10