This was certainly a surprise to find on the reviews
pile. While I am fond of Neil Diamond I’m not a die-hard fan like some of my friends.
I can see the worth in releasing this on DVD though, for there are many many big fans of
the great ND. However one would think that some effort would go into the transfer. But
alas while the film isn’t too bad the transfer is less than great.
The Jazz Singer has been remade from the film of the same name produced in 1927. The
basic plot details the rise to fame of an otherwise unknown singer. Don’t get me
wrong here the film is not by any means a life story of Neil Diamond.
Neil plays Jess Robin a member of a stout Jewish family and is expected to carry on the
family tradition of a cantor, like his father and his father before that. Jess however has
some different ideas. He can sing and he does well in the local New York bars. However
things start to really pick up for him when he is invited to LA to record one of his
songs.
Much to his family’s disgust especially his father he ravels to LA meets up with
Molly Bell (Lucie Arnaz) and goes to work. Things don’t go as planned though.
From here the story becomes more and more predictable and in fact I can bet you know
what happens to Jess’s marriage already.
Anyway this is really the basis for the film. Something else to be wary of is some of
the dodgiest acting I have seen in some time. Neil can sing I will give him that but he
certainly cannot act. This really is an almost laughable collection of acting performances
... 