Review of Paradise Now (2005) by Peter N — 07 Mar 2008

Just out of personal curiosity, I wonder if any of you flixsters miss Gene Siskel as much as I do? Roger Ebert, no offense, buddy, but as someone who has made a gazillion dollars off of slickly skimming the movie "explanation" biz, why do I always get the feeling that you're cutting and pasting your reviews and maybe not even watching the whole movie when you write about it? While I agree with you -- to a very small extent --that the terrorist bomber is a figure to be pitied, Roger, sent out to waste his/her life -- and often the lives of innocent victims, which is where pity stops -- by a "braintrust" that is too cowardly to do the deed themselves -- think terrorists like bush/cheney and their ilk -- I have to say that the following statement by you, Roger, gives me pause: "When religion is involved, it sidesteps the issue, since religion provides an absolute rationale.

" The "issue" is the rationale behind going through with a suicide bombing. Ah, Roger, did you listen to the speech that Kais Nashif (Said) gives when he is about to be cut from the project? This speech is the heart of the film, Roger.

Don't you understand that he's not talking about his religion, but about what a lousy life he leads and that he refuses to return to it? His life sucks, Mr. Ebert, and that is the absolute "rationale" behind what he finally does.

Now that really is pitiful. It's pathetic. I would really rather have him say the principal motivating factor is his religion. Then at least we could imagine that Said believes he's found a higher calling, no matter how twisted it may be.

Let's kill innocent people -- and that bus is full of them -- because we have lousy lives. Great. Well, at least it beats bushco: Let's kill innocent people because we're rich, but we want to be richer.

I tell you, flixster friends, this really really really gives one pause. I wonder what Siskel would have said in return? Roger, you ignorant slut? Oh, sorry, that's the Saturday Night Live take on 60 Minutes.

Siskel would probably just laugh out loud.