Yentl (1983)

Yentl: Directed by Barbra Streisand. With Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving, Nehemiah Persoff. A Jewish girl disguises herself as a boy to enter religious training.

“Iu0026#39;ll be the first to admit that Barbra Streisand is not my favorite performer–I can take her or leave her, depending on my mood. However, I enjoyed Yentl immensely, despite its flaws.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFirst of all, the music is magnificent. Michel Legrand wrote songs that are both perfect for the movie and can be taken out of context as concert material (some of them, anyway–u0026quot;Papa, Can You Hear Me?u0026quot; is somewhat of a stretch). However, I was supremely disappointed that Mandy Patinkin doesnu0026#39;t sing a note in this movie. Obviously, the movie was meant for Barbra–it was HER baby–but still. Why cast Mandy as your leading man (and he was very appealing, I must say) in a u0026quot;movie-musicalu0026quot; and not write a single song for him? Gah.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd to everyone who says that the movie is not credible because Barbra could never pass as a man, I say listen to the soundtrack. Thereu0026#39;s a lyric in u0026quot;Tomorrow Nightu0026quot; (the one about her wedding to Hadass) that says u0026quot;They may have eyes but they donu0026#39;t see,/They never really look at me./People are blind!/How else would everyone believe me?u0026quot; Yentl didnu0026#39;t think that her plan would ever work, but people are easily deceived by her manu0026#39;s clothing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyway. I liked this movie very much, and I certainly recommend it, but I can see how, if one canu0026#39;t stomach Barbra Streisand, it might be a bit jarring and obnoxious.”