Two Men and a Bomb: PARADISE NOW

What better way to celebrate thanksgiving than to watch something that makes you truly thankful that you live in America. And though there is much messed up with this country (that I am wont to complain about) we don't have to deal with members of our family joining up to become suicide bombers to battle the oppression as we are held hostage in our own land. That is precisely the situation in the excellent PARADISE NOW, a movie that could and would never be made in hollywood, but can, through the amazing collaborative spirit of the continental film market, be made by a Palestinian director and a Dutch, two Germans, an Israeli and a French Producer.

Director Hany Abu-Assad studied the interrogation transcripts of suicide bombers who had failed, read Israeli official reports and spoke to people who personally knew bombers who died -- the friends and families and mothers to find out exactly what makes someone sign up to die for Allah. He of course discoved that every stary is unique and so he gives us a movie three distinct view points: two friends who sign up to be martyrs and the female friend of one of them, herself the daughter of a famous martyr. Said and Khaled work dead end auto mechanic jobs under the oppression of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Their mission is simple, go into Tel Aviv and blow something up, the more soldiers you get the better. They are strapped into their bomb suits (which can not be removed without be detonated) and head over the border, only to be instantly spotted. After they are seperated the confusion begins and second act is given over to wether the men will go through with their task on their own or give up. I don't want to give anything away because that is part of the joy of PARADISE NOW, really getting into the minds of a suicide bombers...

But I've made the movie sound far more serious than it actually is. There are tremendous moments of comedy and tender moments of romance. The cinematagrophy is gritty and direct and performances are excellent. I especially liked Said's mother (Hiam Abbass) one of the most conflicted characters every filmed who sparkles in every scene she is on screen. There is also a great Last Supper visual referrence than was amusing. In all PARADISE NOW will make you think. It is a movie that challenges without preaching and offeres several viewpoints to take or leave. It is ambiguous, but has to be, it is not one story, but rather a story of an entire people, living in horrendous conditions that we in America can only imagine (this movie can help you do that)

PARADISE NOW is recommended to lovers of Political topics, anyone whose ever been to Morrocco in Epcot, people scouting this year's foreign language oscar field, and anyone with a big beard considering shaving. Rick's Rating: A-