Customer Reviews

Alan & Naomi [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of my favorite movies. I was facinated with the relationship between the young man and his father. Alan is a typical 14 year old kid who just wants to hang around with his friends and play stick ball (weren't we all self involved at that age?). Time and again, his father gently prods Alan into trying to break through to Naomi,who is catatonic after seeing her father murdered. Eventually, Alan learns the value of doing the right thing.

What a great movie~ I read the book in middle school, then discovered it was made into a movie. It is incredibly true to the book, with incredible performances by Lukas Haas and company.

this movie was wonderful. it was educational about the war and the problem of predjudice--yet interesting and just a great movie to watch. - Danielle

Normally, I wouldn't go for a movie centered around two young teens but this is well-done and one of the actors, Lukas Haas, is a veteran despite his age. (He was the little Amish boy in "Witness").

Haas is outstanding in here, particularly in conveying his feelings throughout the film. It's a story that could easily be trite or corny but winds up appealing with no unpleasant scenes overdone. That could have happened since the girl (Vanessa Zaoui) is a traumatized kid with several mental problems. Michael Gross and Amy Aquino, meanwhile, do a decent job of playing Jewish parents and it's nice to see a father portrayed in a positive light, for a change.

In summary, a good and somewhat underrated melodrama

This is something of a coming of age movie, where a young boy learns the meaning of friendship and that life isn't always going to be fair. It is a story that will be familier to any of us who were young teenagers striving to have a degree of independence. It also gives a glimpse of New York during the latter stages of World War II - German submarines are no longer prowling off the coast sinking ships, but there is still the periodic air raid drill to remind you that the war is still on-going.

The cast all around is outstanding. The father charecter of Lukas Haas is exceptional. Mom reminds me of my mother in some or her mannerisms.

The movie leaves you wondering if there will be a better day for Naomi and Alan. It should be in every family movie library.