Ishtar

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Matt K Ishtar is one of the most underrated movies of all time. Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty are brilliant as a hopelessly hapless singer/song writing duo who take up residency as lounge singers at a hotel in Morocco after their lives fall apart in New York. They soon get sucked into international intrigue and become pawns on separate sides of a power struggle between the CIA and a rebel group trying to take down the emir of the fictional country of Ishtar. I think critics decided they hated the movie before it even came out due to its well publicized budget and schedule overruns and audiences never gave it a chance. Like The Big Lebowski, it was misunderstood and under appreciated in its time, and like The Big Lebowski it has undergone a significant critical reevaluation in recent years. Martin Scorcese has even cited it as one of his favorite movies and Quentin Tarantino is also a big fan. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/25 Full Review Mike P It's not the worst movie ever made, as it's reputation suggests. It's just a lame, pretty worthless, pretty meh regurgitation of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road to Rio" movies of the 40s. Not recommended Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review Jeff G If you've ever tried to be creative this movie will hit home in a big way. It isn't a "classic" but it does pull off some nifty tricks. I think my favorite is Warren Beatty presented as a big oaf, and Dustin Hoffman as a suave ladies man. The songs go into the "so bad they are good" category. They are perfect for two song writers who don't realize how bad they are. Dustin Hoffman even thinks they are in the same league as Simon and Garfunkel. If you simply take it for what it is, "road picture" style comedy, it is very good. There are scenes that are very funny. People's chief complaint seems to center around how much it cost to make. I don't know about you but I don't use a film's budget to determine whether or not I like it. It is worth watching if you can keep an open mind and look for the gems. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/23/23 Full Review Narciso R Gross, gross, did I mention gross. NRJ. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/02/23 Full Review Casey M Ishtar is my all time favourite movie. I saw it in the theatre in 1987 and continue to watch it a couple times a year if I need a pick-me-up. I sing along to every one of the ridiculous songs and know all the words. It's full of hilarious lines! Chuck trying to teach Lyle how to say the word 'schmuck' cracks me up every time!! "Say 'shh'" "Shh" "Now say 'muck'." "Muck". "Now put them together." "Smuck." I truly believe that the majority of people who call this 'the worst movie ever made' have never actually seen it. Ask Gary Larson! He actually apologized for his Far Side cartoon depicting hell as a video store where the only movie available is Ishtar. He later watched the movie and took it back. Ishtar is far from the worst. Give it a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/23 Full Review Steve D Of all the films of 1987 this was technically one of them, I am almost sure of it. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Ishtar

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