Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunate stereotypes
Review: Renee Zellweger gave a great performance as a woman trapped in the insular community of Hassidic Jews. I didn't feel that the Hassidic community was given a fair or in-depth portrayal.I felt that this was another example of using modern Western standards to judge a community that does not necessary adhere to its values. We don't see the positive aspects of this community that keeps people living this way. I didn't feel like I was really let in to see the real way they live. This greatly simplified a story that could have had more depth. There are two sides to every story and while I would come down on Sophie's, I still felt that we weren't given a fully rounded portrayal of what she was up against.
Rating: 
Summary: A JEWEL!
Review: Renee Zellweger is superb in this story of a young woman trapped in a culture and tradition that does not suit her soul's yearnings. Zellweger is totally believable in this role and it's hard to believe she is a Texas native. Though the story unfolds in the Orthodox Jewish community, it is really universal. A woman is kept from expressing and living her true self and must take drastic steps to escape the life that is suffocating her very being.
Rating:
Summary: Uneven but interesting
Review: Renee Zellweger plays against type as Sonia, a traditional Hasidic wife, who yearns for different experiences sexual and otherwise. On her journey, Sonia deals with extended family including a predatory brother-in-law and befriends a Puerto Rican artist (nicely portrayed by Allen Payne.)Along the way, the movie also deals with mysticism in the form of Sonia's dead brother and a homeless woman. Zellweger gives a good but subtle performance in her role.Apparently this movie was a huge subject of controversy when it was released. The Hasidic community reportedly took offense at their portrayal and the casting of the decidedly Waspish Zellweger in the lead role. Perhaps that's why it slipped under most people's radar. Their concern is understandable. When a group is rarely portrayed in the movies, any negative generalizations are a sensitive issue. But I think the controversy obscures what is in fact the movie's universal message. Individuals who feel that they don't belong in the community in which they've lived their entire lives and how or if they break out of that mold. The problem is not with the Hasidic community but with Sonia herself. She has to discover who she is. Unfortunately, Boaz Yakin may have been too subtle with his message and as a result most people missed it. For the most part, I enjoyed the movie. Like Fresh, Boaz Yakin's previous film, it's a bit uneven. (Interestingly, Fresh was a source of controversy in the African American community for it's subject matter. Perhaps this is a pattern with Yakin.) It's seems as if the director's vision may have been too ambituous for what he had to work with at times.
Rating: 
Summary: Zellweger Shines in Ethnic Drama; Points of Comparison
Review: REVISED from my earlier review: A beautifully rendered drama of a contemprary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community. Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. (I wrote these words of promise when the film was 1st released, long before Renee's fame via the fluffy "The Diary of Bridget Jones" and the incredibly wonderful "Chicago"! Now I saw hor on the cover of Cosmo!) The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! Production design is exceptional! Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithic. It is not. In my own family and beyond, many people experience forms of Jewish Orthodoxy which are fulfilling and wonderfully peaceful. On the other hand, abusive conduct does creep in to parts of this world, as exemplified most vividly by the 1999 Amos Gitai film, Kadosh -- a terrifying portrait of the worst side of Orthodox Jewish patriarchy, which makes "A Price Above Rubies" seem like a fairy tale. In my own community, we have learned of an attempted horrific Orthodox shunning and boycotting of a wife and doctor after she reportedly sought a divorce alleging substantial physical abuse. (Who can say whether the woman's charges were true! The vengeful letter writing and attempted boycott are fact, however.) Traditional thought and practice has its beauties and strengths and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great Drama, Too Ambitious
Review: See the movie. From all these other reviews, you might wonder if it's really going to be worth watching. You've read the other reviews, and the movie sounds nutty, kind of impossible, probably not that interesing. But it is interesting. It's engrossing. It works. It's really, really good. It's a bit too ambitious in the end, but it works anyway, and will be with you for a long time afterward.
Rating:
Summary: At once: entertaining, insulting, yet conversation-provoking
Review: Something for everyone (as long as you like choices such as: good, bad, and ugly). Looking at the film from a socio-religious point of view: If you're not familiar with the practice of the "ultra"-Orthodox/Hassidic Way of Judaism, this movie can be misleading. If you embrace this way of life, this movie will likely be insulting. And if you're in-between, this movie will start conversations. One one side, a critical eye for religious aspects would find the handling of serious religious matters simplistic, at best. Many dialogues are obviously the result of a sophomoric and often secular understanding of Jewish religious philosophy. Furthermore, this shallow handling of religious matters, combined with many unexplained depictions of stark, dispassionate interpersonal relations among general family as well as between spouses comes-off as dysfunctional and one-sided. (Having said all that:) On the other hand, there are serious issues of a woman's courage; the realities and expose' of what many believe to be an impervious, monolithic and righteous sect; and of course, the cinematographic and story aspects of the film which make it a guaranteed conversation-starter in any crowd.
Rating:
Summary: Watch Strong Performance of Renee Carry the Whole Drama
Review: Thanks to the critical and commercial success of "Briget Jones' Diary" in Japan, lovely Renee Zellweger's long-belated drama has been released theatrically here. But the film seems to be seeking for its audience desperately, for when I was watching it, I could find only three audiences in theatre (maybe that's because it was Tuesday evening. Maybe.) Anyway, the film deserves more audiences not least because it shows one of Renne's best performance as Sonia, who lives in an Orthodox Jewish community. If you remember Harrison Ford's "Witness," the way of their life is easily pictured to yourself, and Sonia knows she has "a burning fire" within herself. Actually, sexual desire or yearning for the world outside, whatever it is, it is so hot that she feels burnt within herself (and tells that the rabi, who meets unexpected fate with his wife). Clearly discontented with her husband who is too occupied with studying the mystery of the religion, Sonia finds her husband's brother Sender is interested in her and her ability to evaluate jewelery. But Sender's interest turns out more than that. If "A Price above Rubies" is not set in Jewish community, the plot may sound more ordinary and even banal, as a decently made, but not so special knowing-one's-self story. As it is, the film, you might think, will put of some of the viewers because of its negative descriptions of the community. I expected that way, but I found the fact is more complicated; first of all, except for some of the characters, the Jewish people are not shown in a negative light. Christopher Eccleston's character Sender looks roguish in the end, and Julianna Margulies' Rechel obviously represent the aspect of narrow-mindedness, but these elements can be seen in any community. And it should be noted that Sonia's husband is not drawn in one-sided way, finally showing his best side to his wife. Probably director Boaz Yakin knows more than most of us about the Jewish people, so we should leave tje matter there. Another factor that might surprise you is that the film employs a fable-like storytelling, introduing in the begining the two characters that might not exist. They come back to Sonia, telling and listening to her, revealing the inner voice of her to the viewers. This might be interesting to some, but I find that simply unnecessary because the strong performance of Renne Zellweger tells everything about this interesting heroine Sofia, and if only to watch her, the film is worth your money. As Rabbe you can find John Randolph, and as Rebbitznm Kim Hunter (that lovely female ape in original "Planet of the Ape") Interestingly, both actors are once blacklisted during the time of McCarthyism.
Rating:
Summary: Ah, but there's so much MORE going on here than meets....
Review: the eye! No need to add more to the comments about the main plotline that are adequately described above. But the things that makes this movie special are the sprinkled esoteric references to a little known strain of Mediaeval (and earlier) Jewish gnostic mysticism that run thru this movie. I'm am nowhere near a scholar in these matters, nor am I Jewish, but in my readings in Mediaeval Spain, I came across many references to a goddess/female principle called Lilith, who supposedly came before Eve. I welcome emails by those who know more than I on this subject!
Rating:
Summary: Memorable Performance By Zellweger
Review: The self-imposed standards regarding matters of faith to which an individual must adhere, the priorities one sets, and giving precedence to one matter of importance at the expense of another are issues addressed in "A Price Above Rubies," written and directed by Boaz Yakin and starring Renee Zellweger. After the birth of her first child, a son, a young New York City woman, Sonia Horowitz (Zellweger), struggles with emotional and sexual frustration as she attempts to cope with the extreme ideals of her husband, Mendel (Glenn Fitzgerald), an Hasidic Jew who holds God above all things, including his wife and their marriage. Mendel is a good man, a holy man, but in his youthful zeal to please God and live according to His Word, he woefully neglects Sonia, a fact to which he has been blinded by his religious fervor. His devotion to God is so all consuming that he is not only unable to meet, but is unaware of, the needs of his wife. Sonia is a good wife and mother, a good person who loves God, but is simply incapable of effecting Mendel's degree of devotion and sacrifice. His concerns are of a spiritual nature, while hers are more immediate. Increasingly discontent and striving for a means through which she can rise above the stature of non-entity bestowed upon her by Mendel, her life takes a turn only when her brother-in-law, Sender (Christopher Eccleston), intercedes on her behalf. A jeweler by trade, Sender sees a value in Sonia that he likens to a price above rubies, but his efforts soon prove to be a mixed blessing for her, as ultimately her life becomes more complicated than ever. Yakin is to be commended for his objective approach to this story; any judgment of those involved is left to God and the audience. He neither condemns Mendel for his-- what may be deemed by some-- excessive piety, nor does he absolve him of it's implications. By the same token, he neither condemns nor absolves Sonia for her actions. And by avoiding any subjective judgment of the characters, it heightens the impact of the film in that it forces the involvement of the individual viewer, who must then decide if what has transpired is appropriate or not. It's a very subtle and effective way of drawing in the audience, wisely employed by Yakin, as it maintains a balance in the film while allowing the actions of the characters to speak for themselves. As Sonia, Zellweger turns in an excellent, understated performance, through which she makes you feel the exasperation of this woman in need of self-esteem and acknowledgement. There's something of Ibsen's "A Doll's House" in this story, for Sonia (like Ibsen's Nora) is not motivated by selfishness, but by the desire for her family to be able to function as a whole, and to be, herself, an invaluable part of that whole. It's a selfless pursuit for recognition and equality, rather than an ego driven quest for autonomy, and because of this it is easy to empathize with her. Zellweger does not play Sonia for sympathy, though it would be the easy road to take with this character; she opts instead for credibility in her actions and reactions, and succeeds with an honest portrayal that makes her entirely believable. Fitzgerald also gives a solid performance as Mendel, a man you are neither able to like nor dislike, mainly because Fitzgerald does such a good job of maintaining the integrity of the character. And as Sender, Eccleston does a notable turn, as well, and again the filmmaker's objectivity in presenting the relationship between the brothers adds that ring of truth that makes the contrast between the two convincing. The supporting cast includes Julianna Margulies (Rachel), Allen Payne (Ramon), Kim Hunter (Rebbitzn), John Randolph (Rebbe Moshe), Kathleen Chalfant (Beggar Woman), Edie Falco (Feiga), Shelton Dane (Yossi) and Jackie Ryan (Young Sonia). Yakin's delicate handling of the sensitive subject matter, as well as the unqualified non-judgmental tone of the film, puts the value of "A Price Above Rubies" at a cut above the usual drama that seeks to deal with the issues of religious ardor. The ending of the film may not resolve the matters at hand to every viewer's satisfaction, but it's honest, and consistent with the rest of the story. What minor flaws the film may contain can be easily overlooked in light of Zellweger's memorable performance, and the fact that it proffers an emotionally complex and involving experience, especially for the discerning viewer.
Rating:
Summary: A good story, but it has some faults
Review: The title comes from the biblical quotation about a virtuous woman whose worth is above the price of rubies. The filmmaker himself says the film is about the power of female sexuality and this is the dominant theme throughout the film. The movie has some structural faults, most notably an attempt to be surreal. And so there are some scenes and characters with other-worldly characteristics as well as intrusions of ghosts. I wish the movie spent all its time in the real world though, because it certainly is a good story. Yes, it's set in an orthodox community. Yes, there are some unique aspects to the way of life of the people. Yes, the way of life seems overly restrictive, especially for women. I loved the character of Sonia, a young wife of a Chassidic scholar who yearns for sexual fulfillment. She's feisty, smart, and is capable of even the most subtle emotions with one look on her face. The minor characters are all interesting, from her sister-in-law who jokes with her about not being "chicken" about her son's circumcision, to the rebbe's wife, who plays a small and important role as the plot twists in an unexpected way. Alan Payne plays the dark skinned Puerto Rican man with sensitive restraint and the cast is full of types not usually depicted on the screen. There were parts of the movie I thought were just silly. There were parts that I would have like to see changed. But there were real tears dripping down my face in some of the more moving scenes. And I found myself totally immersed in Sonia's world. She's a character I won't soon forget.
|
