Review of Everything Is Illuminated (2005) by Marianne R — 02 Dec 2017
"Laughter thru tears is my favorite emotion".
Unlike Steel Magnolias, Everything is Illuminated only a mild to mostly moderate tear jerker. But if you were crying and then suddenly laughing when Claire suddenly urged M'Lynn to slap Shirley MacLane then Everything is Illuminated might be the kind of movie that will go on your list of favorites.
In the beginning the movie feels a little absurd, two very different people start the search for an unknown person in a place that doesn't exist anymore.
Wood and Hutz play characters whose contrast in culture and personality is a riot and I was enjoying the film before their adventure really started.
The Steele Magnolias quote came to mind because this movie is a comedy as well as a drama rooted in the holocaust. Conflicts and frustrations are tempered with just enough comedy that showed different sides to the characters, and I think prepared them and us for the climax.
I noticed that a lot of the critics who gave this movie a 'rotten' mostly compared it to the book it is based upon. I like this movie so much I should read the book, and because I saw the movie first I will probably like both.
This review of Everything Is Illuminated (2005) was written by Marianne R on 02 Dec 2017.
Everything Is Illuminated has generally received positive reviews.
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