The Jazz Singer (1980)

People are voting emotionally.

Just what I expected

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

As a movie, "The Jazz Singer" is not terribly good. However, Neil Diamond's music make it worth at least a look. Particularly relevant in these times is his hit "(Coming To) America, an anthem extolling immigration and the contribution of immigrants to American culture. The acting, however, is another story. This was one of Laurence Olivier's "made it for the money" flicks and Lucie Arnaz was tragically miscast. As an actor, Diamond is a great singer. I don't know what spoilers I'm adding here but I figure it's better to err on the side of caution.

People are seriously giving this 10 stars? I only give it two for the songs, and only some of them. The single biggest contrivance that stuck out to me was the idea that this seemingly level-headed, mature guy just throws a fit one day in a recording session for no good reason and bails out to become a homeless drifter. The second biggest was that after disappearing for two years, she just welcomes him back with open arms--no woman I know would do that. Or a record company. Or an orthodox Jewish father. As near as I can tell, this whole movie was created to showcase a few Neil Diamond songs; the money would have been better spent filming music videos, but I guess they weren't a thing yet in 1980. The level of suspension of disbelief required to appreciate this plot means one serious bong rip.

Like was mentioned in another commentary, Diamond should have made a concert film and I add or a documentary on his life laced with these new songs. Or narrate a documentary of Jewish musicians in America. But why am I frittering my time crying over spilt milk what could've been done instead? Somebody put this crap together, Diamond's in it and to sum it up minus the music & (too little of) Lucy Arnaz (sp), Jazz Singer 1980 cringe-worthy.I was incensed with the black face thing above everything else--Remake or modernization that should not have been in the film; maybe it tinged my feeling for the rest of this cinematic drivel. But wait, black face scene out it's still a nauseating flick without songs and Lucy's daughter. It's not the least bit funny or charming. The makers of this should've taken a peek at the the Beatles films--They were both funny and cute and the Fab 4 could act. Sting (Dune 1984) and David Bowie are good average actors, Manilow was somewhat tolerable in his film 5 yrs later but the story was nice. Jazz Singer 1980 is boring and Diamond is so gut turning bad even Larry O, laughable in his role, couldn't make me forget how this remake sucked. Somebody ever coming across this review get a hold of what Roger Ebert said about this when it firs came out. It sums up everything.

I liked this movie even though there was no jazz, because I thought the story worked. The theme of whether to follow one's dream or stick with wife and family is significant and was treated well. Neil Diamond may not be a great actor, but he made me believe in his role and he made up for his acting limitations with his music, which I found appropriate to the larger context of the film. When his father disowns him because he has left his wife for a gentile woman I found Lawrence Olivier's performance quite dramatic and effective. I also saw genuine character development in Neil Diamond's character and thought the issues he was wrestling with were familiar and helpful to any musician trying to balance career and family.The tension between father and son is real throughout the movie and I liked the way Neil Diamond and Lawrence Olivier portrayed that tension.