Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Goodbye, Columbus (1969)
Director: Larry Peerce
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
A wonderfully beady-eyed adaptation of Philip Roth's novella satirising the Jewish nouveau riche and/or the American Dream, with Benjamin as the impoverished graduate courting a Radcliffe girl (MacGraw), and discovering what he's got into only when she invites him (to the exasperation of her socially ambitious mother) to stay as a house guest. Self-effacingly directed by Peerce, the film stakes everything on minute observation of detail: the ghastly gusto of mealtimes in the parvenu dining-room; the loose-limbed insolence in every movement made by the scion of the family; the worship of appearances rather than accomplishments in everything that is said or done. With Philip Roth's barbed dialogue retained intact, and faultlessly delivered by an admirable cast, the film is funnier than The Graduate (made a couple of years earlier) and much less pretentious.Author: TM
Cast & crew
Director: Larry Peerce
Producer: Stanley R Jaffe
Cast: Richard Benjamin, Ali MacGraw, Jack Klugman, Nan Martin, Michael Meyers, Lori Shelle, Royce Wallace full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 105 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations












What do you think?
Post your review now