Holy Rollers, 2010
Holy Rollers should be given an award for trying rather than actual excellence, to encourage interesting ideas to surface more in Hollywood. Holy Rollers apparently based on real events probably loosely is centred on the character of Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg), a sheltered 20 year old being raised in the highly religious and conservative Hasidic Jewish community in the 'burbs of New York (Brooklyn 1998 to be exact). Sam is frustrated at his lack of involvement with the world, he's young and naturally intrigued at the world outside of his Jewish community. He gets his chance to venture into this world when his neighbour Yosef (Justin Bartha) promises him the high life with money if he simply delivers medication from New York to Amsterdam. Normally most people would have alarm bells ringing if some shifty character is asking you deliver "medication" to Amsterdam for wards cash but for Sam its doesn't seem phase him. Eventually Sam finds out these "medications" are probably not legal but despite the risks he enjoys the thrill and continues with his drug trafficking ways.
This picture captures much the essence of this film
Holy Rollers had potential to be so much more than it was. As for drug trafficking movies go this was definitely more Disney than Traffic. It was like the director Kevin Asch was carefully making his way around the subject like an awkward teenage boy with his first sexual encounter. Could be brilliant but mostly disappointing. I do really like the insights that Asch had with the Jewish community although this was not a documentary on Hasidic Jews. As for the drug trafficking world it felt a little distance and not quite getting to the core issues and problems that could come from it. It felt restraint much of the time and was quite short as a result of the lack of plot. The idea behind the movie really caught my attention but as the movie continued the interest started to diminish. Eisenberg did a good job as the lead, you really do like him and Bartha as the "bad guy" did a solid performance but none of the characters brought that much emotional pull. I do give credit to Asch for being able to show the distance and isolation Sam felt even before he was a drug mule and I really could see Sam pulling away from his family and community as the movie progressed. But the ending was such a disappointment as it was cut rather short and thus ended in anticlimax.
Just practising, need to the keep the cardio up!
Final say: Holy Rollers was the film that could have been great but wasn't. With good actors and original premise that could have left you feeling breathless and entertained however only leaving you feeling disappointed. A good effort from Asch but far too average that it just became forgettable. 5.5/10
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