Review of The Jazz Singer (1927) by James B — 04 Jan 2009

I can say confidently that I am not a fan of musicals, but this did not stop me from liking The Jazz Singer, a film that is carried beautifully up to the end, through its tale of family and the tension it brings with professional aspiration.

Granted, the theology is a bit shady (in the end, despite what the director wants you to believe, he does not have God in his heart, his mother is there instead), and the acting is unimpressive (but this is forgivable, for the story surrounding the players covers over the way the characters are played).

I think what I like most about this well balanced (the conflict is well played to the final shots) family drama are the small moments: the movie opens with some gripping, if not everyday, shots of the city that just catch your eye and aesthetic sense, the intertitles are painted with simple, yet highly appropriate backgrounds, there is a great feel of Murnau in the construction of the scenes and the camera angles (think, the Last Laugh), and the movie contains well placed humor throughout.

Even if the story and the acting are not the greatest ever, I still rank this film as full of great moments and pieces to make it worthy of memory.