Review of Everything Is Illuminated (2005) by Jess K — 12 Jun 2009
Half quirky culture comedy, half piercing social drama, Everything is Illuminated is likely Liev Schreiber's best work to date, and he isn't even in it. The shift from humor to poignancy is subtle enough to be unnoticed and adds considerable weight to what might otherwise be little more than a light road movie.
Delivered with enough ambiguity that it never feels heavy-handed yet provides the necessary illumination (so to speak). Alex and his grandfather are great characters, from Alex's roundabout translations to the elder Alex's mounting change, and both are very well portrayed in the film.
Once Elijah Wood manages to control his creepy eyes he'll be a much better actor. Nonetheless, a wonderful, affecting film worth seeing at least once.
This review of Everything Is Illuminated (2005) was written by Jess K on 12 Jun 2009.
Everything Is Illuminated has generally received positive reviews.
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