Now I watched this movie because I heard it was "so bad it's good" - and I love movies like that. Now definitely Streisand has no idea how to act, and the score is overblown, and the whole movie is quite stupid, and the plot has holes you can drive a truck through... but I just couldn't hate it. Please let me explain: I hate soppy romances as much as the next guy (especially soppy romances that pretend to be intellectual, but are not, like Yentl), however Mandy Patinkin's brilliant performance as Avigdor kept me interested. He had so little to work with due to a poor script and a ridiculously contrived plot, but he manages to bring such sincerity and strength into his role that it saved the movie from being complete sop.
Yentl did not deserve its Oscars or nominations; Irving looked good but displayed no range of emotion; the songs were pitiful and repetitive with the sole exception of "Father please forgive me" (which would have really worked if not for Legrand's terrible score). Having said that, Streisand (who can't direct) CAN sing, and if you tune out of the lyrics there is some pleasure to gained from this (at least on a first viewing).
Intellectually, the movie says nothing positive about women, and it implies that women who want to pursue education will get so sidetracked by their emotions that they'll get nowhere. Two cheers for feminism, I guess. Nonetheless, the production, set design and costuming are very good, and although Streisand can't act her way out of a paper bag, Patinkin adds a notable dimension of depth and interest to this silly, but well meaning, movie.
Yentl did not deserve its Oscars or nominations; Irving looked good but displayed no range of emotion; the songs were pitiful and repetitive with the sole exception of "Father please forgive me" (which would have really worked if not for Legrand's terrible score). Having said that, Streisand (who can't direct) CAN sing, and if you tune out of the lyrics there is some pleasure to gained from this (at least on a first viewing).
Intellectually, the movie says nothing positive about women, and it implies that women who want to pursue education will get so sidetracked by their emotions that they'll get nowhere. Two cheers for feminism, I guess. Nonetheless, the production, set design and costuming are very good, and although Streisand can't act her way out of a paper bag, Patinkin adds a notable dimension of depth and interest to this silly, but well meaning, movie.