A Hologram for the King

2016 • 97 minutit

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Cultures collide when an American businessman (Tom Hanks) is sent to Saudi Arabia. There, he hopes to close what he believes will be the deal of a lifetime. Baffled by local customs and stymied by an opaque bureaucracy, he eventually finds his footing with the help of a wise-cracking taxi driver (Alexander Black) and a beautiful Saudi doctor (Sarita Choudhury). The film is directed by the acclaimed Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN) and is based on the global best-seller by Dave Eggers. In A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING, Tom Hanks creates another classic everyman character, Alan Clay, whose journey sheds light on the changing realities of the global marketplace and reveals hidden aspects of life in Saudi Arabia. He's traveled to the country in an attempt to revive his flagging career, but finds much more.

Hinnangud ja arvustused

While it starts with a very cool Talking Heads metaphor at the beginning, this Arabic Lost In Translation is well within Hanks' skill set. In fact the bar is set so low he could trip over it. While this movie isn't inherently awful, it's not exactly fantastic either. Of course Chaudray(?) and Hanks put in quality performances, but is it intoxicating or full of dry wit like Lost in Translation? No. Am I packing my bags for Saudi half way through the movie? No. Am I glad I only rented this movie? Yes. Entertaining sure but heart warming and glorious it isn't.

I was expecting some drama based on cultural conflict, one man's survival, Middle East meeting West. Turned out to be a subdued affair, not enough punch.

Give it up Hanks