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IMDb > Ishtar (1987)
Ishtar
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Overview

User Rating:
3.6/10   5,647 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Elaine May
Writer:
Elaine May (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ishtar on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 May 1987 (USA) more
Plot:
Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the CIA... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Vintage Isabelle
 (From FilmExperience. 23 March 2009, 9:38 AM, PDT)

Twilight Movie: A Case For Overexposure
 (From TwilightersAnonymous. 11 November 2008, 7:07 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Nothing Great, But Often Very Funny more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Warren Beatty ... Lyle Rogers

Dustin Hoffman ... Chuck Clarke

Isabelle Adjani ... Shirra Assel
Charles Grodin ... Jim Harrison
Jack Weston ... Marty Freed

Tess Harper ... Willa

Carol Kane ... Carol

Aharon Ipalé ... Emir Yousef
Fijad Hageb ... Abdul (as Fuad Hageb)
David Margulies ... Mr. Clarke
Rose Arrick ... Mrs.Clarke

Julie Garfield ... Dorothy

Cristine Rose ... Siri Darma (as Christine Rose)
Robert V. Girolami ... Bartender (as Bob Girolami)
Abe Kroll ... Mr. Thomopoulos
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Additional Details

Runtime:
107 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:L | UK:15 (uncut DVD version) (2004) | UK:PG (theatrical release, cut) (1987) | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG | USA:PG-13

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Despite the film's reputation as one of the biggest box office failures of all time, Ishtar did, in fact, hold the #1 box office position in its first week of release. However, in its second week, with the release of Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), the film quickly dropped to fourth place. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Marty Freed is sitting with Chuck and Lyle, after he first hears their act, he puts his hand up to his mouth ("Let me tell you what I told Tony Bennett..."). In the next shot, the hand is on the table. more
Quotes:
Shirra Assel: The birds in the desert eat only flesh, and there is no wind. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Naked Movie (2002) more
Soundtrack:
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
31 out of 39 people found the following comment useful:-
Nothing Great, But Often Very Funny, 9 July 2004
Author: squeezebox from United States

If ISHTAR had starred Steve Martin and Chevy Chase and been directed by John Landis, shot for $10 million on a Hollywood soundstage, I think people would have enjoyed it for what it is, a sophomoric, silly road movie.

However, it stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, and was directed by Elaine May, a trio of actors and filmmakers who were known for comedy classics as HEAVEN CAN WAIT, THE HEARTBREAK KID and TOOTSIE. Therefore, people expecting to see the most brilliant American comedy of all time were shocked and appalled when, instead, they got a glorified Cheech and Chong movie.

Is this fair? Yes and no. ISHTAR definitely falls flat at times. There are some curiously lifeless moments and awkward scenes that reek of last minute re-editing. The movie is far from perfect. But it is often very funny, and features two terrific, underrated performances from Beatty and Hoffman.

Watching Beatty play such a well meaning dim-wit is a real treat. And Hoffman is just as good playing an equally dense, overly self-assured jerk. Elaine May and Paul William's intentionally awful songs are hilarious as well. People who criticize the quality of the songs or Beatty and Hoffman's vocal talent are obviously missing the joke, as both are SUPPOSED to be bad.

A pre-obnoxiously conservative Charles Grodin adds plenty of laughs as a CIA agent, while Isabelle Adjani does well in a deceptively complex role, which requires her to play it totally straight while engaged in completely ludicrous scenes with Beatty and Hoffman.

Beatty and Hoffman's interaction while trapped in the desert is classic. One of the movie's funniest moments involves the wind kicking up after they have been told by Adjani that "there is no wind in the desert". Hoffman asks, "Is the wind blowing?" Beatty answers, "This must be one of those once in a lifetime things, like the glaciers melting." If you don't find that funny, you'll hate this movie.

But if dry, silly humor is your cup of tea, and you can view a movie without being overly distracted by it's star power, then you just might enjoy ISHTAR. It doesn't always work, but I found it to be pretty funny, with a fair amount of really great laughs. Considering the barrage of moronic, unfunny Hollywood comedies that have come and gone in it's wake, ISHTAR should be considered a triumph.

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Soundtrack....yes, again..*sigh* papalorentzi
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