The title Jacob the Liar will make many cringe, as it did me, seeing as it evokes the image of Robin Williams in another grotesquely maudlin role. But that was the '99 version of Jacob. In fact, that was a remake; the '77 original, which bares the same title, has no Williams sentimentality and is well worth a rental. It's being re-released this month.

Based on Jurek Becker's novel, Vlastimil Brodsky plays Jacob, a prisoner trapped in a Polish ghetto with thousands of other Jews awaiting either deportation to the death chambers or starvation. Brodsky overhears a radio report about a Russian victory against the Nazis, and promptly delivers the good news to his other inmates. In an absurd comical turn, he then feels compelled to pass on good news (including things he's made up), to keep the prisoners' morale up. This is a taut film, an impressive dark comedy that puts to shame that claim about Life Is Beautiful being the first comedy about the Holocaust. Apocalypse Now Redux has been released on VHS and DVD. Though much ink has been spilled about Coppola's film, the DVD does contain some new noteworthy stuff, alternately funny and sad commentary by the filmmaker. Though some AN fans have criticized the added footage, I couldn't disagree more. The added sequences only enhance this work, arguably the greatest war movie ever made.

--Matthew Hays