Jakob The Liar

3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
Robin Williams plays a Jewish man in Nazi-occupied Poland who begins relaying fictitious news bulletins about Allied advances in order to keep hope and humor alive among the ghetto residents.
  • Starring: Robin Williams, Jonathan Schaech
  • Directed by: Peter Kassovitz
  • Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
  • Release year: 1999
  • Studio: Columbia Pictures
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Jacob the Liar
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Product Details
Synopsis: Robin Williams plays a Jewish man in Nazi-occupied Poland who begins relaying fictitious news bulletins about Allied advances in order to keep hope and humor alive among the ghetto residents.
Starring: Robin Williams, Jonathan Schaech
Supporting actors: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Alan Arkin, Mark Margolis, Michael Jeter
Directed by: Peter Kassovitz
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
Release year: 1999
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Studio required notice: Content is protected by U.S. copyright law. Learn More.
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
ASIN: B003F1HB0S (Rental) and B000PH6T76 (Purchase)
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Rental rights: 24 hour viewing period Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Compatible with: Mac and Windows PC online viewing, compatible instant streaming devices, TiVo DVRs. System requirements
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)
Also available on DVD

Jakob the Liar DVD ~ Michael Jeter

3.7 out of 5 stars (57) $6.69
Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: September 24, 1999
  • MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
  • Production Company: Columbia Pictures, Blue Wolf, Kasso Inc. Productions, Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG
  • USA Box Office: $ 4 Million
  • Filming Locations: Budapest, Hungary | Hungary | Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland | Piotrków Trybunalski, Lódzkie, Poland
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Customer Reviews

57 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (19)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (6)
1 star:
 (7)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (57 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Understand Where This Is Coming From, July 3, 2000
By 
Samuel G Carle (West Jefferson, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jakob the Liar [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Don't watch this expecting Life Is Beautiful or Schindlers List - Don't watch it expecting to compare it to other Robin Williams Films. Granted, it's not as realistic and the original German version but understand where the film is coming from. Read Jurek Beckers novel for more insight. I'm assuming this films takes from the novel (which is set in the Lodz ghetto in Poland) - it's not a lavish detailed holocaust film but the message of hope that is gained from this is great. Watch the original German production and read the book - then watch this version with an open mind.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie!, April 3, 2003
By 
Linda Benske (Delafield, Wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jakob the Liar (DVD)
This movie should be placed among the timeless World War Two classics such as Schindler's List and Life Is Beautiful. It is truly one of Williams best performances since Goodwill Hunting. It acurately portrays the life of people during the Jewish Holocaust. Iwas touched deeply by this movie and moved by the great performance of Williams and the rest of the cast. Peter Kassovitz establishes himself as a great director with this movie. The book was great and the movie was even better!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The key to your reaction will be your frame of reference, August 5, 2000
This review is from: Jakob the Liar [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The week before seeing this film, my wife and I travelled to Krakow, Poland to see Auschwitz. We then visited Prague. I have to tell you, if your frame of reference is boomer generation American living in Europe and having visited the real thing -- rather than other movies -- the film is a revelation.

We stumbled across this rental in a UK Blockbuster, rented it, and were stunned by it. It felt closer in atmosphere and nuance to where we'd just been than anything we've ever seen. It is a "small" movie: no grand gestures, no sweeping vistas or bright colors. No "pops" in the story line, no grand themes caricatured. This is not to say that we don't have our own copies of Schindler's List and Life is Beautiful, nor that these films suffer from these defects!

But...if you haven't been to this part of the world, the one film of these three that would be most consistent with what you felt and intuited would probably be this one.

I'm sorry the critics didn't like it. It is something out of the ordinary, and appears to have been a labor of love.

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