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Yentl (1983)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
3/22
3/22:
A motion picture isn't going to work if I'm constantly screaming at the obvious.
That's the case with Yentl. Either Barbra Streisand must think people are stupid or she's really that stupid.
Which one is correct, I know not. I can't believe these Ashkenazi Jews, given their famously high average IQ,
couldn't see it. The problem is the casting of Barbra Streisand which negates the twist. Had she been a complete
unknown like what happened with Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game, it might
have worked.
The other glaring problem is there's no story. The first half-hour is about the father who's ready to pass away.
Then, Babs decides to be a man. After that, s/he meets a Jewish idiot. Finally, the fool reveals to him that he's
a "she." For a minute there, Babs was going to reveal her breasts, but the scene quickly cuts away to something
else. But Joyce Hyser did exactly that without reservations in
Just One of the Guys and therefore succeeded.
Ultimately, Yentl is a long movie which is precisely 131 unforgivable minutes. To break up the monotony,
Babs takes the time to sing a beautiful song, yet all I could think of is: should this be a music video instead?
At least, the photography is outstanding. Hence, what a surprise that David Watkin wasn't recognized for it. Having
handled the cinematography work in Chariots of Fire, he went on to win
the much-deserved Academy Award for Out of Africa.
What bothers me is Yentl was released in 1983 when it felt like an early 70's picture. The truth is: Barbra
Streisand had difficulty getting it financed despite obtaining the screen rights in 1969 which was going to be her
next project after Funny Girl. Probably the biggest problem was it's too Jewish.
There were also over twenty script variations in order to make the angle work for Babs.
The acting is okay. Barbra Streisand was too old for the part (40 years old at the time). Of course, she never
cut her hair; it was a wig. What a fake actress Babs is. Mandy Patinkin plays a stupid character for a Jew. To his
credit, he turned down the role several times due to disliking the script, but Streisand's influence (probably
sex) proved to be too strong for him. Amy Irving is the worst and thus doesn't belong in films. She cheated on her
boyfriend Steven Spielberg with, of all people, Willie Nelson, and then they reunited and were married from 1985
to 1989. To her luck, Amy scored a cool $100 million divorce settlement thereafter.
Finally, the most damning indictment comes from the author of "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy," Isaac Bashevis Singer, when
he was asked about his thoughts on Yentl and whether he liked it or not:
"I am sorry to say I did not. I did not find artistic merit neither in the adaptation, nor in the directing. I did
not think that Miss Streisand was at her best in the part of Yentl. Miss Streisand lacked guidance. She got much,
perhaps too much advice and information from various rabbis, but rabbis cannot replace a director. The Talmudic
quotations and allusions did not help.
Music and singing are not my fields. I did not find anything in her singing which reminded me of the songs in the
studyhouses and Hasidic shtibls, which were a part of my youth and environment. As a matter of fact, I never
imagined Yentl singing songs. The passion for learning and the passion for singing are not much related in my mind.
There is almost no singing in my works. One thing is sure: there was too much singing in this movie, much too much.
It came from all sides. As far as I can see, the singing did nothing to bring out Yentl's individuality and to
enlighten her conduct. The very opposite, I had a feeling that her songs drowned the action. My story, 'Yentl the
Yeshiva Boy,' was in no way material for a musical, certainly not the kind Miss Streisand has given us. Let me say:
one cannot cover up with songs the shortcomings of the direction and acting.
When I read her script and saw the movie, I understood that she could not have accepted my version. In my script,
Yentl does not stay on stage from beginning to end. The leading actress must make room for others to have their say
and exhibit their talents. No matter how good you are, you don't take everything for yourself. I don't mean to say
that my script was perfect, or even good. But at least I understood that in this case the leading actress cannot
monopolize the stage. We all know that actors fight for bigger parts, but a director worth his name will not allow
one actor to usurp the entire play. When an actor is also the producer and the director and the writer, he would
have to be exceedingly wise to curb his appetites. I must say that Miss Streisand was exceedingly kind to herself.
The result is that Miss Streisand is always present, while poor Yentl is absent."
Well said, Mr. Singer.
All in all, forget Yentl; it's the pits.