Barry Levinson
Rock the Kasbah

"Rock the Kasbah" (with the "K", it's not a mistake... and yes, I know the Clash song is titled "Rock the Casbah" with a "C") has a slightly ridiculous premise: a rock music tour in Afghanistan to entertain the troops still stationed there (the film is from 2015). The tour organizer is Richie Lanz (Bill Murray), a washed-up and unscrupulous manager who seizes the opportunity to drag his reluctant lover and protégé, Ronnie (Zooey Deschanel), to Kabul. The plan? Showcase the beautiful Ronnie singing covers and, most importantly, pay off debts. The problem? Ronnie wants to sing her own songs instead of covers, and Afghanistan? Not exactly her idea of a professional hotspot. So, as soon as she lands after a nightmare journey, Ronnie runs off with Richie’s last bit of money and, for reasons known only to the screenwriter, also her lover-manager’s passport.

Stranded and penniless, Richie encounters Merci (Kate Hudson), a sensual lady of the night, improbably working the streets of Kabul. (Why? Because it’s a comedy, that’s why.) And then there’s the amiable local cab driver Riza (Arian Moayed) who, in the grand tradition of shady dealings, takes Richie on a trip to a remote village where Ronnie discovers Salima (Leem Lubany), a singer with a great voice and a small problem: she’s Pashtun and is absolutely forbidden to sing.

Now, if all this were set, say, in Amish country or Greenland, we’d all have a good laugh and move on. But since it’s set in Afghanistan, controversy arises. Comedy in this context is a walk through a minefield: one wrong step and boom! However, the setting seems even too relaxed considering the news that leaks out. But let's be honest, Salima's talent? Perhaps it's not worth risking life or physical safety for a good singer, but like many that can be found in less explosive locations.

Kate Hudson does an excellent job as the charming yet improbable Kabul escort, and even Bruce Willis does alright in the secondary role of Bombay Brian. Still, this is Bill Murray's film. I recently saw him in "Broken Flowers" and "St. Vincent", but here he is funnier. Richie is a lovable scoundrel: dishonest enough to create interesting situations, but with a heart of gold buried somewhere beneath endless lies and shady deals. I much prefer this Murray to the grumpy, almost mummified characters he's played in the other two films.

As for the director, he has a long, uneven career and his biggest success was undoubtedly "Rain Man" from the now distant 1988. Other successful or at least popular films include "Good Morning, Vietnam" from 1987 and "Sleepers" from 1996. In the new millennium, he worked on the quirky "Bandits" and a series of TV movies probably unseen in Italy.

Probably due to the controversial setting, the film was slammed by the US critics. However, even if not particularly original, it’s watchable and no worse than many other American comedies. PS ... and don't expect to hear the Clash's "Rock the Casbah" because the rights weren’t granted, but the soundtrack is dotted with interesting tracks like "Can’t Find My Way Home", "Smoke on the Water" and "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood".