While it would be one of many of my nominees, this affectionate appreciation from Julie Klausner might persuade others to vote for Dirty Dancing as what the author calls "most Jewishest movie."
In honor of the High Holidays, let Jewish and Gentile cinephiles offer their thoughts on the subject.
In the animation category): Prince of Egypt (1998, with the voice of Ralph Fiennes as Moses) and The Rugrats Passover. In the classics category: Counsellor at Law (1933, with John Barrymore as the attorney who suspects his wife of anti-Semitism). In the the comedy category: Annie Hall (1977, with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton) and In Her Shoes (2005, despite the fact that Shirley MacLaine is cast as a Jewish nana). In the drama category: Enemies: A Love Story (1989, with Ron Silver as the Holocaust survivor leading a triple life) or Munich (2005, with Eric Bana and Daniel Craig as an agent sof Israel's Mossad) or Defiance (2008, with Daniel Craif and Liev Schreiber as Jewish Nazi-fighters during World War II). In the musical category it's Dirty Dancing (1987, with Jennifer Grey as the Jewess attracted to Gentile dancer Patrick Swayze) and Marjorie Morningstar (1958, Natalie Wood as the Jewess attracted to Gentile dancer Gene Kelly). Upcoming is the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man, a serious candidate for the honor.
Spike Lee once told me that he just "didn't get" Enemies and shrugged, "Maybe you just have to be Jewish." I don't know that that's true. But I was reminded of his perplexed reaction to the movie as I was walking out of (the very fine) A Serious Man and buttonholed Gentile colleague Lou Gaul and asked, "Is this understandable to a non-Jew?" Lou nodded, answering, "Oh, it's so Catholic." Yom tov to members of the tribe, a good weekend to everyone else ... and your nominee?
Holy Babs, how could I forget "Yentl"?— carrierickey- My favorite is probably CROSSING DELANCY.— garyk
- I think you need to add "Avalon" to the list too. And as a (very) dark horse, "Pi".— Philly Ray
- I think you need to add "Avalon" to the list too. And as a (very) dark horse, "Pi".— Philly Ray
- Wait...what about Schindler's List and Fiddler on the Roof???— Philly Ray
- Pretty much anything by Woody Allen and Mel Brooks and Little Murders and Carnal Knowledge (Jules Feiffer).— ccjroberts
- how about richard dreyfus in "the apprenticeship of duddy kravitz?" and l'shana tova to you and yours.— eaglesfillthesky
- Pi.— A
- A Serious Man is the most Jewish movie EVER— rickm
- A Stranger Among Us, Fiddler on the Roof, Portnoy's Complaint, Yentl, Gentleman's Agreement?— Jame
- My favorite Yidflicks are Michael Roemer's THE PLOT AGAINST HARRY and Sidney Lumet's BYE BYE BRAVERMAN, but I would hate to leave out GOODBYE COLUMBUS along with Woody Allen's BANANAS and ANNIE HALL and (of course!) Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS.— Amy Heller
- I haven't seen any of the series of Yiddish language films of the 1930s, so the answer might lie there. However, of more recent vintage I would go with "A Price Above Rubies," David Mamet's "Homicide" or, most especially, "Hester Street" with Carol Kane.— edwardcopeland
- I haven't seen any of the series of Yiddish language films of the 1930s, so the answer might lie there. However, of more recent vintage I would go with "A Price Above Rubies," David Mamet's "Homicide" or, most especially, "Hester Street" with Carol Kane.— edwardcopeland
- Yentl, yes. Actually ANYTHING with Barbra.— MikeKlein
- I've received a lot of e-mails from people who have tried to post unsuccessfully. There's a lot of love out there for "I Love You Alice B. Toklas" (1968), "Bye, Bye Braverman" (1968) and "School Ties." I can't believe I forgot "Homicide" and "Funny Girl."— carrierickey
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