Rock The Kasbah

Bill Murray plays Barry Levinson, an aging music agent in Van Nuys, California. He stumbles upon an Afghan girl named Salima (Leem Lubany) who he tries to make into a national star. The story then becomes about whether this washed up agent can help the career of Salima, and whether she can be accepted in a very traditional Muslim society.The movie really is touching. Barry finds Salima singing at night in a cave. When Barry wants to take her to Kabul he’s immediately told that she’s going to be killed. When she goes on Afghanistan’s version of American Idol whole sections of the country say should die. Not only that but she’s even more of a culture shock for the country because she sings American songs in English. Yes, Bill Murray gets to act his usual goofy self, but the movie is really about Salima and whether she’ll be accepted by her nation.C

Always good but this is especially amazing true events- it’s based on a true story, it’s a feel good movie with true events which makes it all that much more worth it, if you love a beautiful voice and are a fan of Bill Murray you can’t lose. And a fan of freedom and equality, without giving anything away it gets you a step closer to that. Well worth it

Two Americans, one a sleazy talent agent, the other a prostitute, lure a native Afghani woman into showbiz in order to make a quick buck.Cultural taboos are broken as the native Afghani becomes the first woman to sing on television. Following her performance, chaos descends upon her small village. She and her family's life are threatened.But at all cost, the show must go on. She must perform again and Murray's character risks life and limb to see it happen. He alone can see that she's destined to be a star. She'll become the next big thing, bringing cultural liberation to the impoverished country, spreading the gift of American Pop music.Moral interpretation aside, the movie isn't very funny, nor does it attempt to be. The character's are poorly developed caricatures, reminiscent of those in Almost Famous and similar movies. Absent is Murray's usual rakish charm.The character of the Afghani singer is given no distinct qualities or personality. Her ascent towards pop stardom leaves her just as much of a commodity, maybe more so, than if she had stayed in her village, anonymous beneath a burqa. At least in her village she'd have the shelter of family and tradition. Instead Murray's character and his prostitute partner take the place of parents, for the now outcast Afghani woman. Of biggest concern to her new mom and dad, is who will get the biggest profit split from her talent.I like many of Murray movie, but this one just didn't sit right with me.

A very under-rated film. If you are the type who cannot settle in and enjoy the fun, just skip it. There is a lot of good in here and you can ignore the negative reviews. The ones I've seen seem to either fall into the "it isn't Caddyshack", or "how dare someone have anything lighthearted to say about Afghanistan". What it is, is Bill Murray delivering the way you expect. Settle in and enjoy the one liners that appear from beginning to end. And if you didn't know there was an "American Idol" type show in Afghanistan, go ahead and watch it. You aren't human if you don't smile a lot during this one. If you see Afghanistan and are expecting 13 hours, American Sniper, and Zero Dark Thirty.... this isn't that. But there's a lot of good here. One Afghan actor in the film who portrays the singers father said it's the first time in 78 roles that he wasn't cast as a terrorist. Honestly, I doubt the intelligence of the critics who panned this. The NYT critic is a classic example of this. She was offended at everything. Give it a chance. Watch it, you know you want to.

It seems that ROCK THE KASBAH can't go wrong with its great cast, well-respected director and writer. Yet, unfortunately, it goes wrong..very wrong. Here's Bill Murray playing several characters from the classic Saturday Night Live days but all rolled into one annoying, dishonest, and pathetic former rock manager. Richie Lanz (Murray) supposedly discovered Madonna and was tight with other rock stars of the day. Although it's not clear as to how true these stories are, we do seem him in a shabby room in Van Nuys, CA offering to manage seriously untalented singers for an upfront fee. The scam is the thing of broken dreams in Los Angeles. He does have one amazingly talented singer Ronnie (a very likable Zooey Deschanel and it does seem like the lady can really sing) and somehow they are booked to do a USO tour in Afghanistan.The war zone soon terrifies Ronnie and she runs off with Richie's money and passport. Trapped in Afghanistan, Richie accidentally gets involved with gun-running thugs and an exotic hooker (Kate Hudson). The gun runners drive around Kabul in a convertible with a serious "don't mess with me driver" and make an offer Richie can't refuse. Can Richie be redeemed in the end when he discovers an Afghani teen with an angelic voice?Can he get her on the Afghani version of American Idol?There is just so little to enjoy in this mindless film. Even star talent, a respected director and writer can't save this wreck. Murray is annoying and obnoxious in typical Murray fashion throughout the film. Believe me, I like Murray but he seems lost in this film. There is a brief spark of magic in Murray as he sneaks off to say goodbye to his daughter through her bedroom window unbeknownst to his ex-wife. Sweet scene that proves Murray can do comedy and drama together.

Everything about it is classic

It’s OK, but I think I was expecting more out of a movie staring Mr. Bill (Wonderful) Murrey. Bill has done so many phenomenal movies like Stripes, Caddyshack and Lost In Translation that I think this movie I expected more. Still interesting. Fun to watch Bill Murrey in everything he does. Maybe just a little out of character.

Irgendwie hat die kleine Tochter des heruntergekommenen Musikmanagers Richie Lanz(Bill Murray) da Recht, aber natürlich kennt sie ihren alten Herrn und weiß: Der versucht es trotzdem! Richie hat nichts zu verlieren. Die Geschäfte gehen schlecht. Seine Sängerin Ronnie(Zooey Deschanel) zündet nicht so richtig und Geld ist auch Mangelware. Also packt Richie die Gelegenheit am Schopf und nimmt ein Engagement zur Truppenbetreuung in Afghanistan an. Dort angekommen läuft alles schief. Ronnie setzt sich mit Richies letzter Kohle ab, der beinharte Soldat Bombay Brian will von Richie 1000 Dollar, und Richie selbst kommt nicht mehr außer Landes. Allerdings passiert auch etwas Gutes. Richie lernt die bildschöne Merci(Kate Hudson) kennen. Deren Gewerbe ist allerdings sehr viel älter als die Musikbranche. Ach ja, und dann sind da noch die Waffenhändler, die Paschtunenkrieger und das Mädchen Salima(Leem Lubany), die so wunderbar singen kann und von einem Auftritt bei der Fernsehshow „Afghan-Star“ träumt. All diese Zutaten werden Richies Leben extrem beeinflussen. Richie mag ein Looser sein, aber aufgeben ist nicht gerade seine Stärke...Wieso dieser Film an den Kinokassen keinen Erfolg hatte und die Kritiker ihn zerrissen, das mögen die großen Filmkundigen der Welt erklären können; ich kann es nicht. Regisseur Barry Levinson war für Meisterwerke wie -Good Morning Vietnam- und -Rain Main- verantwortlich. Bill Murray spielt eine Paraderolle, wie nur er sie ausfüllen kann. Zooey Deschanel und Kate Hudson sind schlichtweg brillant in ihren Parts. Die Gags sitzen passgenau und die kleinen, feinen Details der Geschichte sind wunderbar gelungen. Als Schmankerl hat die Story sogar noch einen kleinen, wahren Hintergrund. Was will man mehr? Ich weiß es nicht. Für mich war -Rock the Kasbah- 106 Minuten allerfeinste Unterhaltung.Denken sie daran: Lassen sie sich weder von mir oder anderen Rezensenten sagen, was gut oder schlecht für sie ist. Entscheiden sie selbst. Sie dürfen Filme wie -Rock the Kasbah- gern als schlecht, schwach oder misslungen bewerten, wenn ihr Geschmack ihnen das sagt. Allerdings gebe ich ihnen den Tipp: Schauen sie sich den Film an. Neben tollen Akteuren und einer überaus witzigen Story gibt es als Beigabe noch wunderbare Musik und Levinson legt einen Showdown hin, der fast schon Edelwestern-würdig ist. Ich war jedenfalls hin und weg und gebe die ultimative Empfehlung zum Anschauen.

I thought it was a lovely film. Don't really understand people's problem with it. If it doesn't grab you at the start, stick with it. Nice that it's based on a real-life story.

Weak for Bill murray

Very good

excellent