Sameer Callahan
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
Patience Watson
One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
myschrec
OK, perhaps my perception is biased by the fact that my Bar Mitzvah was in 1962, albeit Chicago. But this movie rang true on every count: the family business, the distracted (worried) father, the overprotective mother, the domineering brother (just like mine), and the exaggerated importance that (we) twelve year old boys desired of our "coming out party." The movie made me laugh out loud, and even audibly groan at the pathetic human foibles. Bernie's family was (almost, but not quite) as crazy as my own. But the central theme of the film was neither the craziness of family nor the anticipation of disaster. It was how Bernie and his family got through it all and learned core and timeless values. I do not want to spoil it, so I will just say that the ending was incredibly fulfilling. Every Rabbi should see this film. Every parent should see it with their twelve year old -- boy or girl, Jew or Gentile.
shuichi_shindosan
I am the one writing this review, but I am doing this review in the style of my dad. My dad has seen some of this movie and he stated, 'brings back memories!' That's an achievement to get any man to say. From the next paragraph I am going to be my dad writing what I feel he would say.A truly amazing movie with pure elegance and sheer brilliance. An amazing story set in the most amazing time in British history, captivating a truly emotional time where British people could actually smile without being called creepy or disgusting! Back then we all lived in a more happy place, we wasn't scared to leave our doors unlocked and we appreciated our neighbours. I am not Jewish, so I don't know how many Jewish festivities go, but if I was Jewish, I would have been pleased to have such a great day on my Barmitsvah. I went to the 1966 world cup final, the crowd was mostly British, but there was some Germs there. The British lead the screams. Back then is when stadiums really felt like you were there. We were cheering England on, we couldn't believe we were winning, the cheers supported the team! Bobby Moore, what a tackle! Bobby Charlton, get the ball up there my son! Geoff Hurst, GOAL! 3-2 to england. What a shocker. After normal time, we go into extra time. The game was mad as it was, we were shocked! So were the English team. They didn't believe it. Seconds away from the finish, Germany almost scored, the ball gets kicked down the field. The England crowd just stayed quiet. Geoff was on the ball, a player coming towards him............he shoots with the left................ .........................GOAL!!!!'They think it's all over, It is now!' What a game. ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP! No one believed it. We screamed and hugged whoever we could get a hold of. We patted the England players as they walked up to see the queen. It was a game, there will never be one like it ever again.The film brings magic back into England.
Sebastian Farrell
Personally, I think so. For those of you unaware of his work he is responsible for directing almost all of the Mr Bean programmes which have entertained generations of multi lingual people, he also directed my favourite film, Bernard and the Genie. For those of you unaware of this film please search for it now and look at some of the comments about it has received, its quite simply the best Christmas film ever recorded. He delivers simple but massively effective narratives which appeal to all ages, easy to watch films which last long in the memory of all those who watch them. I fear Sixty Six will not be well received due to poor marketing (who exactly did it appeal too? I only watched it on the strengh of its director) but having just watched it I can assure anyone thinking about giving it a go to just WATCH IT! Its hilariously funny and deeply moving and the story flows like a butterfly. I was utterly dismayed I was sharing the experience of Sixty Six with 4 other people knowing full well it would be enjoyed by thousands if not millions more. Paul Weiland please stand up and take your place as one of Englands finest directors/writers and for the love of all things sacred make more films and continue the 'Bernie' trend :)
scruffyharry
I was expecting a Jewish humour kind of film (like Jack Rosenthal's Barmitzvah Boy all those years ago). There *is* some humour, and some Jewish in-jokes, but mainly I found the film to be very sad. Like some other recent films about losers (e.g. Brassed Off) the pathos overwhelms the humour; contrast Full Monty, Billy Elliott, where the crapness of the situation is still treated humorously. I thought the film lacked Jewish characters and situations I could identify from my own childhood (where were the British vs Jewish conflicts, and the anti-semitism?) and I didn't like the rabbi (stereotype with that Ron Moody accent).What *was* good, I thought, was the attention to detail by the props department. I was 13 in 1966 (in fact my best friend's barmitzvah WAS on that exact date ... nothing like in the film though: plenty of guests turned up, though quite a few snuck out into the car park during the game) and a few things caught my eye, notably the duffle bag, and the kids playing a horse-racing game whose name I forget which involves stretching a sheet of canvas over the table and turning a handle to make the horses "run" ... Robledo or something. And of course all the old cars.
