Tzur Hadassim

This is one of the many movies that seem to pop up a lot lately, which one can't seem to comment on without mentioning Quentin Tarantino's 1994 classic Pulp Fiction. Most of these movies are very good movies for themselves, movies like Go or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and yet it's almost impossible to find a review of these movies which doesn't mention Pulp Fiction.

Yes, it is an Israeli movie, and yes, I am aware of the fact that some Israeli movies are not very good. I went to see this movie with very low expectations, and yet I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

This film is highly recommended. Regretfully, it didn't get the praise it deserves, not even here in Israel.

This is a minor, inconsequential film, but it does have its charm.

It is supposed to deal with criminals and crimes, but in such a light way as to render it a parody of the genre. The criminals are all inept, the police more lucky than smart and naturally nothing works according to plan.

The performance enhances the parodic feeling of the film, with some overacting, but not in a jarring way. It's as if the actors had instructions to act in a look-how-stupid-we-are manner, and they do it brilliantly.

On the plus side, the film flies by rapidly. It has no real dull or dead moments, no introspection or philosophizing moral. It just aims to provide you with an hour and a half of good time, and in its minor, unassuming way, it does.