Holy Rollers

2010

Holy Rollers

Critics Consensus

Despite a promising premise and a solid central performance from Jesse Eisenberg, Holy Rollers lacks the depth necessary to overcome its cliched script.

52%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 90

33%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,174
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Holy Rollers Photos

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Movie Info

"Holy Rollers" is inspired by actual events in the late 1990s when Hasidic Jews were recruited as mules to smuggle ecstasy from Europe into the United States. It is the story of a young Hasid from an Orthodox Brooklyn community whose neighbor propositions him to transport "medicine" for an Israeli dealer and his girlfriend. He is exposed to the exciting and gritty worlds of Manhattan and Amsterdam nightlife, and as the business grows, his double life begins to rip his family apart and the community becomes suspicious of his illegal activities. Caught between life as a smuggler and the path back to God, he goes on the run, forced to make a fatal decision that could bring the entire operation crashing down.
  • Rating:
    R (for drug content and language throughout, and brief sexual material)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Kevin Asch
  • Written By:
    Antonio Macia
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $302,886
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    First Independent Pictures

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg
as Sam Gold
Justin Bartha
as Yosef
Ari Graynor
as Rachel
Danny A. Abeckaser
as Jackie
Q-Tip
as Ephraim
Mark Ivanir
as Mendel Gold
Elizabeth Marvel
as Elka Gold
Jason Fuchs
as Leon
Hallie Kate Eisenberg
as Ruth Gold
Bern Cohen
as Rebbe
Stella Keitel
as Zeldny
David Vadim
as Mr. Maxim
Charlie Hewson
as Andrew
Penny Bittone
as Ivan
Ori Pfeffer
as Israeli Gangster
Andrew Levitas
as Great Necker #1
Marc Rose
as Great Necker #2
Omer Barnea
as Dutch Hasidic Man
Karina Arroyave
as Fabric Customer
Eli Gelb Young
as Hasidic Mule
Evan Mathew Weinstein
as Young Hasid Father
Court Young
as Customs Officer
Caroline Stefanie Clay
as Customs Agent
View All

News & Interviews for Holy Rollers

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Critic Reviews for Holy Rollers

All Critics (90) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (43)

  • We expect more than we eventually get, even if what we get is watchable throughout.

    Jul 8, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • [A] breathless, enjoyable comedy-thriller based on the true story of how Hassidic Jews were recruited as mules in the late 1990s to smuggle ecstasy pills from Amsterdam into New York.

    Jul 7, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • Jesse Eisenberg, in the main role, enhances the film again and again with his comic timing and ability to nail the part of a sheltered ingénu with an incipient rebel streak. It might be dodgy merchandise, but he sells it all the same.

    Jul 7, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Tim Robey

    Daily Telegraph (UK)
    Top Critic

  • This is more accurately a film about a revolution against innocence and the vacuum it leaves behind.

    Jul 7, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Nell Frizzell

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • This is moviemaking on autopilot.

    Jul 6, 2011 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Huddleston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • It's not a terrible movie, but all the way through you feel as if you've already seen it.

    Jun 25, 2010 | Rating: 2/4

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (90)

Audience Reviews for Holy Rollers

  • Sep 23, 2017
    Feeling left in the slow lane of life, New York Orthodox Jews try drug running for awhile, trading on their outsider status. Families disapprove, but they do improve the drug-running game, because they're good with money ... ! Oy.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • May 18, 2013
    In what essentially amounts to a film version of a good Locked Up Abroad episode, Holly Rollers tells the story of young Hasidic Jews who were recruited to smuggle ecstasy from Europe to the United States. Specifically, the film looks at the inculcation of Jesse Eisenberg's character to this new lifestyle. The story that Holy Rollers seeks to tell is a familiar one, but one that should translate well to film. The film does a good job at the start, establishing the rigid belief system and antiquated social structure of Eisenberg's background. His introduction to the world is believable, but the film soon seems to lose its sense of build up and pace. Whereas it set up the Jewish community so well, Essenberg's rise in the drug world seems rushed, with the character arcs of those surrounding him never being fully fleshed out. It's as if the film stopped trying to distinguish itself about 1/3 of the way through, and instead opted for auto pilot. The performances in the film are all good, with Eisenberg having an especially interesting depiction of his character, conservative, awkward, shy, but yet curious and strangely competent. The problem, however, is that many of the supporting roles never fully developed, being especially pronounced with Justin Bartha's character. The relationship between Eisenberg and Ari Gaynor is also not handled especially well. Despite the weaknesses, Holy Rollers remains entertaining. It has most of the hallmarks of an effective drama, though it never stops to catch itself and reignite its originality. 3/5 Stars
    Jeffrey M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 01, 2012
    I can understand why this film was poorly received, in some criticisms of it, but over all it's a solid drama. I think when you here drug smuggling you think of a violent action. Don't expect this, it was very timidly paced and didn't show the really bad side. It wasn't in your face, and didn't even hint at violence in the drug smuggling business. This took out a realistic feel for this film, but the movie intentionally stayed away from it. The point was a low key spiritual message, when you think drugs low key and spiritual usually don't come up. I think the problem was how the crew produced it and not the film itself. The beloved Roger Ebert stated that "(the Hasidic Jews) never seem to be anything but Hasidic Jews". I strongly disagree with this statement this film also showed there sexual desires and family life. It wasn't all set in a Shul like Mr.Ebert portrayed. The film has a clear message, and without ever saying it you know what it is. Eisenberg acted his heart out and developed the character well from start to finish. It was slow, but at the same time there was a lot to enjoy.
    Daniel D Super Reviewer
  • Jul 07, 2012
    An interesting idea executed in an un-interesting way, 'Holy Rollers' had my attention, but due to a lack of interesting characters and some serious pacing issues failed to hit the mark.
    Cameron S Super Reviewer
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