Kevin T

Yes this film is funny and warm-hearted...but it is so much more. While much of the humor relies on physical gags, farcical situations, and editing room trickery, I can’t think of another movie that more simply and poignantly illustrates the absurdity of “modern” society. If you don’t feel the injustices in this film then you don’t have a heart. The Gods Must Be Crazy should be required viewing by all.

Twelve minutes of story-telling crammed into two hours. Sorry, this movie isn’t compelling at all. The plot is simple, and the characters are flat. Unfortunately I have a terrible patience and ended up watching the whole thing. One huge hole...it’s difficult to suspend disbelief that a new Jovian moon that’s massive enough to generate internal heat and hold an atmosphere could be”newly discovered”.

The Humanity Bureau has the distinct feel of someone purchasing their first camera and making a movie with a plot written as they go along. It’s encouraging to see that Nicholas Cage is still in good enough shape to outrun the bullets from three machine guns at a range of about 50 feet.

Having no fore knowledge, it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Joaquin Phoenix cast as the lead in Joker was influenced by this film. His obnoxious, surly character is hard to watch...a testament to his performance. Equally weird and well cast is Philip Seymour Hoffman, both annoying and compelling as the enigmatic cult leader. The two play well off each other, and that is the strength of this film. As other reviewers have rightly noted, this film, while set in the early ‘50s, does not feel like a “period piece”. I like that the film centers on the characters.