Description
It's not deep or complicated, but it's all entertaining and makes for wonderful comedic material. In this performance, Schwartzman exudes an especially messy and disheveled appearance, giving the impression that Ben is uneasy in his own skin on Afdah Movie. He doesn't appear composed or confident up on the bimah podium, where he has undoubtedly been frequently before what the rabbi refers to as a "extended sabbatical," even before he fails to sing in front of the crowd. His refusal to be paired with Gabby, the rabbi's messy daughter, seems to have less to do with any sense of devotion to his late wife and more to do with sentimentality. It's also unclear if he misses his wife because he calls her an alcoholic writer.