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
Review of Jakob the Liar
