Review of Jakob the Liar

A fabulous ensemble surrounds the always excellent Robin Williams In this World War II drama that will not perfect is certainly engrossing in many ways. Williams doesn't escape from his typical schtick, but is extremely subtle for most of the time playing the complicated role of a Jewish shopkeeper accused of causing trouble in the Warsaw ghetto when in reality, he is helping his people out more than they believe. As a caretaker of a young girl, Williams is a loving foster father, even though his people believe that he's a traitor to them. Much of what he does puts his life in jeopardy from both his own people and the Nazis, but basically he's a tragic distraction, obviously willing to die if he can save others.

Standing out in this beautifully filmed period drama are Alan Arkin, Hannah Taylor Gordon, Hannah Taylor Gordon and Liev Schreiber, with a moving script and type direction aiding in making this complicated story make sense. There have been better movies made about the Holocaust, but this is more of a personal story than a war film, focusing more on character than a strong plot. It's easy to get engrossed in stories like this when there is a hero as special as Jakkob. Williams was a clown who could often break your heart, and he shows with dramas like this the heart behind the sadness, the man with so much laughter to give that when he took on a serious part, you could put aside the clown and see not just the actor but the character that made it appear that he was not acting.