Everything Is Illuminated Reviews

Highly entertaining - truly funny and thought provoking.

A truly premium film! Maybe not quite as good as the original novel (a must read, laugh out loud, multi-stranded work of genius) but then very entertaining in its own right. They obviously had to cut a lot out for the film script, but the characters definitely come to life - particularly Alex and his grandfather.

It's definitely one of those 'how did I miss it the first time round' films - maybe not to everyone's taste, but if you enjoy quirky, leftfield films with great characters and enough mainstream appeal to keep everything in check (i.e. Little Miss Sunshine) then please rent this.

My recommendation - watch the film, enjoy and then read the book!

Renews your faith

..in the industry when they make films like this. In two years of membership this is my first 5 star film.

Can't think of many movies where a family of four ranging from age 46 to 12 can watch, laugh and cry together.

This is just a wonderful, wonderful film. You begin by laughing and end up in reverential silence. Hard to fault anything really...cinematography is mouth watering, the performances understated but finely pitched (even the Ukrainian trench diggers!)

and in my humble opinion this quest by Elijah Wood which also ends up with the acquistion of a ring is better value than LOTR.

nice touch at the airport at the end as well.

Quirky

Being about a village in the Ukraine wiped out by the Nazi's it's hard to imagine this film could be funny but using the quirks of the modern day characters does not detract from the heart of the film. In their search for memories about the members of the village the three main characters cover a lot of ground, overcoming prejudices and fears and getting to know how each other ticks.

I loved it.

Quirky - and a gem

One of the best things about using a service like this is that you get to watch a huge variety of films and you get to discover films that you most likely would otherwise have missed.

This one was a real gem. From time to time it's good to watch a film where not a great deal happens but where you really get beneath the skin of the characters.

And from time to time this film made me gasp as I shared the growing realisation of Jonathan and Alex that Alex's grandfather knew more than he cared to admit. What wonderful performances from the four main characters.

Brilliant

I thought this film was absolutely marvellous.

It was funny, touching, sad and very well written.

An new and interesting approach to what is normally a very diificult subject to tackle.

In fact, I liked the film so much I'll be buying the dvd.

Don't do it!

So depressing - not just the story, but the way it's written. Not entertainment.

Beautiful

Everything Is Illuminated is a film of two halves. The first is the funniest comedy I have seen in a long time and had me laughing out loud constantly. The second part is the most stirring and poignant drama I've seen in a long time and had me on the verge of tears several times. This is not the first film and won't be the last to structure itself in this way but this is the first time I'm seen it pulled off this well. Without the comedy of the first half you wouldn't warm to the characters so much (possibly not even at all) and wouldn't become so engrossed in their story and feel so much for them by the end. This should be required viewing for everyone.

Original and enjoyable

Although the film was a little slow in parts there is a lot to recommend it. It is both funny and poignant, with a great script and good performances from all of the cast. It's refreshing to watch something a little different and this is certainly a very original film with quirky characters, beautiful scenery and a very touching story. It won't be to everyone's taste but if you fancy something a little different, give it a go.

[Highly rated reviewer]

As dull as the book

I love a good US arthouse film but this really isn't one of them. Based on the book of the same name, Everything is Illuminated sets out to be kind of a genealogy-seeking road-movie with a quirky edge but just ends up messy and dull. Elijah Wood tries to lift proceedings with a non-Hobbitesque performance but there's no hope. As the outtakes in the extras show, this movie was a real dogs dinner in production and in the end, why they bothered trying to film a book that was in itself dull and messy is quite beyond me.

Ugh

Boring fell asleep.

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