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In the late 1990s, a small drug smuggling operation found the perfect group of couriers for its operation: Young Hasidic Jews. They needed the money, stayed quiet, and were rarely questioned in airports during those days of looser security. Holy Rollers (a horrible title, more on that later) chronicles this mini-cartel's short life through the start-to-finish participation of Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg), a sheltered kid who transforms from naive helper to fast-talking pro. It's a predictable story arc, but that's okay. First-time director Kevin Asch does solid work within the format, making the most of a strong cast.
Eisenberg has an onscreen presence that precedes him -- and that works in his favor here. From Roger Dodger to Adventureland, he shows off a unique mix of innocence and intensity, in roles where his character is usually shrewder by the final frame. With that in mind, the role of Sam feels made for him. A devoted member of his family and tight-knit community, Sam is studying to become a rabbi and is ready to marry via an awkward arranged situation. His world is small, as are his range of experiences.
When next-door neighbor Yosef (Justin Bartha, The Hangover) teases Sam's curiosity with the lure of cash and girls, Sam slowly trades in a disappointing step into adulthood for a dangerous one. He and Yosef work a busy schedule from Amsterdam to Brooklyn, carrying pills and cash for an Israeli drug lord.
You won't find the weight of Maria Full of Grace or the scope of a film like Blow, but Holy Rollers' smaller size fits its story. The appropriate boundaries of Antonio Macia's script allow the cast to play it a bit more quietly and that's a plus with this talent. In addition to Eisenberg's fine character conversion, Bartha contributes an excellent performance, one that's likely to be overlooked. The actor needs to quickly convey that Yosef cast his die a while ago; once that's established, Bartha builds an intriguing character, a guy who has more swagger than he should, a failing Orthodox Jew in a dark suit and white sneakers.
As is often the case with films where ethnicity is front-and-center, a few players tend to overdo the obvious, pushing an accent or attitude unnecessarily to scream "I'm playing a Hasid!" That's countered well by others, especially busy character actress Ari Graynor, taking the typical girlfriend role far beyond the cliched dumb blonde that's slotted into simpler stories.
As for the film's title: It's beyond bad. Why would you give a goofy name to a competently made drama? It sounds like the name the Wayans Brothers would use for the movie that spoofs this one. You know, the one where the guys trip over their tallises during an on-foot getaway? Thankfully, Holy Rollers is better than that, giving a good name to a somewhat standard fable.
Eisenberg has an onscreen presence that precedes him -- and that works in his favor here. From Roger Dodger to Adventureland, he shows off a unique mix of innocence and intensity, in roles where his character is usually shrewder by the final frame. With that in mind, the role of Sam feels made for him. A devoted member of his family and tight-knit community, Sam is studying to become a rabbi and is ready to marry via an awkward arranged situation. His world is small, as are his range of experiences.
When next-door neighbor Yosef (Justin Bartha, The Hangover) teases Sam's curiosity with the lure of cash and girls, Sam slowly trades in a disappointing step into adulthood for a dangerous one. He and Yosef work a busy schedule from Amsterdam to Brooklyn, carrying pills and cash for an Israeli drug lord.
You won't find the weight of Maria Full of Grace or the scope of a film like Blow, but Holy Rollers' smaller size fits its story. The appropriate boundaries of Antonio Macia's script allow the cast to play it a bit more quietly and that's a plus with this talent. In addition to Eisenberg's fine character conversion, Bartha contributes an excellent performance, one that's likely to be overlooked. The actor needs to quickly convey that Yosef cast his die a while ago; once that's established, Bartha builds an intriguing character, a guy who has more swagger than he should, a failing Orthodox Jew in a dark suit and white sneakers.
As is often the case with films where ethnicity is front-and-center, a few players tend to overdo the obvious, pushing an accent or attitude unnecessarily to scream "I'm playing a Hasid!" That's countered well by others, especially busy character actress Ari Graynor, taking the typical girlfriend role far beyond the cliched dumb blonde that's slotted into simpler stories.
As for the film's title: It's beyond bad. Why would you give a goofy name to a competently made drama? It sounds like the name the Wayans Brothers would use for the movie that spoofs this one. You know, the one where the guys trip over their tallises during an on-foot getaway? Thankfully, Holy Rollers is better than that, giving a good name to a somewhat standard fable.
