UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Holstra Boring, long, and too preachy.

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

briansmallman-61371 I didn't make it through this film, after 30 minutes I just lost interest, it is just muddled and meandering. I like Richard Gere and he is a very capable actor but this movie does nothing for him. Not funny, not entertaining, not worth the time to watch it.

gradyharp Writer director Joseph Cedar studied philosophy and history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is a graduate of New York University's film school. He is rather new to the film industry but his mark is clear - making films that explore human nature and the manner in which we interact as people and as countries (in this case the Us Israel relationship). He knows how to create solid characters and has the ability to attract quality actors to make his dreams visual.Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) is the President of New York based Oppenheimer Strategies, a one man business doing consulting work largely in American-Israeli business and politics, that focus due to being Jewish (Focus: Israeli minister Micha Eshel played with enormous sensitivity by Lior Ashkenazi). Most of his work is as a fixer: doing work that others don't want to do and with which they don't want to be officially associated. In reality, Norman is a shyster, and not a very good one at that. His office is comprised of his cell phone and whatever is stuffed in his satchel that is usually slung over his shoulder as he wanders the streets. What he promises is making connections, setting up a meeting between his guy and the other guy under the guise of connections with significant people. All he needs is for one of the people that he approaches to believe a story to build that network. Not so much a story, but an act of kindness with that ulterior motive does eventually pan out as the connection of which he could have only dreamed. He is able to build off that connection to become the toast of the town, a status upon which he tries to parlay into being an even bigger fish in the pond. But the greater his exposure, the greater the potential scrutiny about him as a person, which could bring his fragile network come crumbling down around him.In addition to Richard Gere's finely tuned performance other members of this memorable cast include Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Josh Charles, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Tali Sharon among others. There is much more to absorb form this fine film than the rise and fall of the main character - just when we need to hear all aspects of the Israeli situation.

TxMike My wife and I watched this at home on DVD from our public library. It is a good one to view the DVD extras, to learn more about what Gere and the writer/director used for inspiration for the story.The usual definition of a "fixer" is "a person who makes arrangements for other people, especially of an illicit or devious kind." In this movie we never get the sense that Norman (Gere) is trying to be devious but it also is clear that his motivation generally was to make a fee for himself and big money for others as he arranged connections among various businessmen.But as they explain in the "extras" all of us probably know a Norman, someone who always seems to take a great interest in others, even strangers, wanting to help them out in some way. The core of the story here comes when Norman encounters a man looking into a department store window at a display of shoes, Norman encourages him to go in, and literally helps him try on the shoes.The man happens to be a Jewish diplomat from Israel and in a few years becomes Prime Minister, Norman having befriended him is granted favor with the new Prime Minister. What started out as a friendly gesture has become something bordering on criminal activity.To me this is one of Richard Gere's very best roles as Norman Oppenheimer, always seeking to please others and help others, even to find $14Million to allow the Jewish Congregation to buy their building that is otherwise scheduled for demolition. But Norman has a glaring issue, he rarely tells the truth, embellishes everything, sometimes talks a great show without ever delivering.Not your usual movie but I enjoyed it a lot.

Otuo Isaac oneil A brilliant movies woven by good screenplay and production.I was excited about the character identification.Each character displayed exactly to the role given.Credit to the dialogues as well as the sound editing.Although it was slow at times,the movie in general was pleasing to the eye.