Rent Holy Rollers (2010)
3.0 of 5 from 86 ratings
1h 29min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Holy Rollers' stars Jessie Eisenberg and Justin Bartha. Set between the bustling streets of New York City and the red light districts of Amsterdam and based on true events, Holy Rollers is the story of Sam (Eisenberg), an innocent young man from a strict religious community who is lured into the dark and seedy underworld of crime and international drug smuggling by the charismatic Yosef (Bartha). Will Sam set himself straight before it is too late, or is the draw of money, women and power too great? With electrifying performances from both Eisenberg and Bartha and featuring Ari Graynor and Q-Tip, Holy Rollers is an intense, dangerous journey and is set to be the next indie smash.
- Actors:
- Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Danny A. Abeckaser, Ari Graynor, Mark Ivanir, Elizabeth Marvel, Jason Fuchs, Q-Tip, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Bern Cohen, Stella Keitel, David Vadim, Charlie Hewson, Penny Bittone, Ori Pfeffer, Andrew Levitas, Marc Rose, Omer Barnea, Karina Arroyave, Alizée Guinochet
- Directors:
- Kevin Asch
- Producers:
- Per Melita, Tory Tunnell, Jen Gatien
- Writers:
- Antonio Macia
- Studio:
- Koch Media
- Genres:
- Drama, Thrillers
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 31/10/2011
- Run Time:
- 89 minutes
- Languages:
- English
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Exclusive Uk Only Interview With Jesse Eisenberg
- Cast And Crew Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
- Interview With Justin Bartha And Jesse Eisenberg
- Trailers
More like Holy Rollers
Reviews of Holy Rollers
Critic review
Holy Rollers review by Melissa Orcine - Cinema Paradiso
Hasidic Jew Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg) is on his way to become a rabbi with an arranged marriage with a fellow Orthodox Jew looming in the horizon. But life in his community in Brooklyn serves as the backdrop for an uninteresting life. Sam’s family owns a fabric shop, they live simply without ambition to get richer, and all is set including his future. His best friend Leon (Jason Fuchs) has accepted this kind of life, and outperforms Sam in every way; so much so that Leonis even chosen to be the perfect pair of Sam’s almost fiancée!
When Sam meets Leon’s older brother Yosef, un-Orthodox in every way complete with bling and swagger, Sam’s interest is piqued. He gets asked to bring ‘medicine’ from Amsterdam to New York, an easy task, but Sam soon realizes he’s actually a drug mule for Ecstasy. Sam finds the drug trade fascinating and he even earns extra cash on the side. Will Sam become a head honcho in the illegal world of drugs? Such is the premise of ‘Holy Rollers’ directed by Kevin Asch.
‘Holy Rollers’ is based on real events that happened in the 90s when it was discovered that Hasidic Jews were being used to transport drugs. See, back then Hasidic Jews are not suspect for any criminal activity and they go through airports with ease. Having them as drug mules was the most perfect idea.
Of course, with every crime comes a corresponding punishment, and in ‘Holy Rollers’, you will get to see both. Jesse Eisenberg who starts out as an innocent Hasidic Jew and turns into Justin Bartha’s un-Jew in every way, are totally instant BFF’s in this one and it shows. We see Eisenberg’s character come-of-age and Bartha’s going ‘Less Than Zero’ on us. The polar opposites of conservatism, simplicity, and traditions of Hasidism are juxtaposed with the mechanical and monetary dynamics of drug dealing amongst willing participants.
It is rather unclear why Eisenberg’s Sam chooses the path of drug dealer since his motivations are also flimsy at best. Is it curiosity or stupidity?