Review of Holy Rollers (2010) by Lee M — 27 Jul 2011

If this film wasn't based on real events my rating would probably be 2 stars. When films are based on true stories it gives them a realistic quality that just brings them to life. Unfortunately, a real-life base isn't enough to make a movie great, it has to be executed right.

Kevin Asch was working with an interesting story and a gifted cast, but this story wasn't presented in it's full potential. It might have been because Asch wanted to preserve the true story as best as possible, but the plot was rather mundane for a story based on international drug smuggling.

It was interesting to see how the lower class Hasidic Jews were drawn into the drug game by the temptation of money, and how Sam's lifestyle estranged him from his Jewish heritage, but a grittier presentation would have helped deliver a more powerful message.

Eisenberg and Bartha both performed exceptionally well, immersing themselves in their characters as best as they could. The cast did their job all right, but Asch's directing and Antonio Macia's lacking script just lacked luster.