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Reviews
Nahr el hub (1960)
A truly over-looked Egyptian classic
Few people are aware of Omar Sharif's career prior to his coming to the West. In his native Egypt he is quite the cult figure, and this '61 gem Nahr El Hub is a superb example. Overtly melodramatic, idealistically overblown but genuinely an indicative example of a National Cinema that at the time was one of the best outside of America.
The plot involves an affair between Omar Sharif and Faten Hamama, a married woman, and the strife that predictably ensues. Throw in topical issues pertaining to the war that was taking place, and a bunch of trademark narrative developments, and you have a sentimental tear-jerker backed up by great performances.
Check it out if you can get a copy. Well worth it.
Star! Star! (1999)
Quirky, off-beat, nonsensical nonsense.
Without Sienna Guillory as the sexy, odd Lu, this would have been largely unwatchable. But her presence, and her obvious chemistry with Nick Moran, makes this at times entertaining.
Stylistically, detachment is a problem - an almost dream-esque ambience doesn't lend to empathy, and doesn't facilitate the movie's essential lack of any actual substance.
There's very little plot indeed, and even less direction - it fails to suggest any aim or point to the whole affair, veering wildly between "comic" moments of subtle ironies, to over-the-top in-your-face slapstick.
On the other hand, the actual romance between the two protagonists is fully believable, and this does hold up well.
Overall, not exactly a good film, or even worth checking out, but it does show promise, especially from the female lead.