Ishtar

Elaine May (1987)

103min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by David Parkinson

Intended as a tribute to the Hope/Crosby Road movies, this has gone down in movie history as one of the grossest miscalculations of the blockbuster era. Even if you find it in yourself to accept the oddball casting of Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as a couple of tone deaf songwriters, it's impossible to forgive the triteness and racial insensitivity of writer/director Elaine May's crass script. It's not quite the laugh-free zone of legend, as the business with the vultures and Charles Grodin's bungling CIA agent have their moments, but the rest of this sorry mess is as redundant as poor old third-billed Isabelle Adjani.

Summary

Rogers and Clarke (Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman) are two inept songwriters, down on their luck and desperate for money. Taking the advice of their shifty agent, the duo are whisked off on a tour of the mystical republic of Ishtar.

Cast & Crew

Lyle Rogers Warren Beatty

Chuck Clarke Dustin Hoffman

Shirra Assel Isabelle Adjani

Jim Harrison Charles Grodin

Marty Freed Jack Weston

Willa Tess Harper

Carol Carol Kane

Mr Clarke David Margulies

Emir Yousef Aharon Ipale

Mrs Clarke Rose Arrick

Abdul Fijad Hageb

Director Elaine May

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: Columbia-Cannon-WarnerGuidance: Edited for some of its language and violence, and contains brief nudity. Available on: video and DVD

Full Episode Guide

Elaine May (1987)

Review

Summary

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