| Flicks

FLICKS: When Comedy Went to School & Lone Survivor

Posted on 13 February 2014 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

www.cinemadave.livejournal.com

The Jewish Holocaust was the primary theme of two recently-released motion pictures, Aftermath and The Last of the Unjust. When Comedy Went to School takes a look at the lighter side of Jewish Culture, proving the old adage that “living well is the best revenge.”

This documentary features some of the most influential comedians of the 20th Century: Sid Caesar, Jerry Lewis, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Jerry Seinfeld. Using concert footage of these comedians in their youth, the audience will receive an education in how to develop a comedy, from the set-up to the punch line.

Buried under the multi-million- dollar Oscar marketing of The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle and Saving Mr. Banks, Lone Survivor has quietly broken the $100 million threshold at the box office. Based on the New York Times nonfiction best seller, Lone Survivor made my Top 10 list for presenting an epic, yet human, movie within a twohour time frame.

In the summer of 2005, Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and his Navy SEALs team accept the assignment to eliminate al Qaeda leader Ahmad Shah in the mountains of Afghanistan. During the mission, the special forces team runs into mountain herders, who may, or may not be, sympathetic to the al Qaeda leadership. Caught in the crosshairs of choosing survival or following the rules of engagement set in motion by Washington politicians, the team makes a choice that ultimately leads to tragedy. (One of the SEALs who died, James Suh, was a Deerfield High graduate.)

Watching what happens to the team is a teeth-grinding experience. Yet, in the midst of the brutality, you will see moments of grace from our brave military volunteers, as well of Afghan Muslim leaders whose code of honor is mightier than the iron command of al Qaeda.

With the exception of a few technical awards, it is too bad that Lone Survivor is being ignored by the Academy Awards this year. It is truly one of the best motion pictures released in 2013.

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