A Jewish man, Yussel Rabinovitch, seems destined for a life in the synagogue. Every generation of Rabinovitches for five generations has served in the synagogue and his father can't imagine any other path for him. However, Rabinovitch would prefer to be a singer and gets finds success writing and playing secular music. When this leads to a recording contract he has to choose between his passion and tradition, a choice that will alienate him from his father.
The original The Jazz Singer was released in 1927 and starred the legendary Al Jolson in the lead role. It told roughly the same story and was an historic movie in that it featured the first ever audible words uttered on film. (For the next Trivia evening, those words were "Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet!"). The story itself was rather dry, predictable and trite - it is only really watchable for the history attached to it.
This, the 1980 version, updates the story and casts Neil Diamond, at the height of his powers and fame, in the lead role. The story remains fairly basic, however - there's nothing too profound, original or engaging about it.
However, what makes the movie is the music. Neil Diamond wrote the soundtrack and it includes some his greatest songs. These get a lot of airtime, in one form or another. More than just good in isolation, the music gives the film energy. The minutes seem to fly by due to the music.
Not a must-see, but certainly not dull.
