Rock the Kasbah

Name: Rock the Kasbah
Genre: Comedy, Music
Released: October 23, 2015
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 29
Cast: Bill Murray, Leem Lubany, Zooey Deschanel

2015

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Ratings

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4.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Ratings

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Rock The Kasbah

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Movie Details & Credits

Open Road Films (II) | Release Date: October 23, 2015 | R

Starring: Bill Murray, Leem Lubany, Zooey Deschanel

Summary: Has-been rock manager Richie Lanz (Bill Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (Zooey Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan’s version of “AmericanHas-been rock manager Richie Lanz (Bill Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (Zooey Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan’s version of “American Idol.” Richie partners with a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), a pair of hard-partying war profiteers (Danny McBride and Scott Caan) and a hair-trigger mercenary (Bruce Willis) and, braving dangerous cultural prejudices, manages his new protégée into becoming the “Afghan Star.”… Expand

Director: Barry Levinson

Genre(s): Comedy, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Brad Wheeler

Oct 23, 2015

Baby it’s a wild film, but not Murray’s best and not Levinson’s either. Read full review

David Lewis

Oct 22, 2015

Levinson is careful not to make the Afghan people into buffoons, which is good, but it doesn’t change the fact that these folks are cardboard characters. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Oct 22, 2015

In its favor: a breakout performance from Palestinian newcomer Leem Lubany and maybe the most apropos use of Peace Train ever. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Oct 20, 2015

The film often plays like everyone making it agreed that some on-set idea was so funny it had to be included, whether or not it suited the story. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Oct 22, 2015

This is an unholy mess — a jumbled, tone-deaf satire in which seemingly vital characters are introduced and then inexplicably disappear, never to return; superb actors disappoint by relying on old tricks they’ve used to much better effect in much better films, and every attempt at political commentary comes across as ham-handed and naïve. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Oct 20, 2015

The film quickly settles into a depressingly one-note groove as a culture-clashing circus act. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Oct 22, 2015

No one doesn’t love Bill Murray, but his melancholy torpor can wear thin in the best of circumstances, and these circumstances are pretty close to the worst. The cast includes Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Danny McBride and Scott Caan. No one escapes unscathed. Read full review

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User Reviews

ourtimehascome

Jul 19, 2017

Rock the Kasbah suffers only from one thing, and that's not having "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash in its soundtrack. Instead there's mostly Cat Stevens, which has the ability to pacify most of the middle-east. At least that's what I learned from the film. Bill Murray delivers yet anotherRock the Kasbah suffers only from one thing, and that's not having "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash in its soundtrack. Instead there's mostly Cat Stevens, which has the ability to pacify most of the middle-east. At least that's what I learned from the film. Bill Murray delivers yet another enjoyable performance. The plot is constantly moving from hilarious event to another. Though it isn't until late in the film when the actual conflict is introduced. Before this, Murray simply moves around and meets people like an American prostitute played by Kate Hudson, arms dealers Scott Caan and Danny McBride, and Bruce Willis as a no-nonsense mercenary with a heart of gold. Surprisingly, all of them continue to be heartwarming and funny, despite the lack of focus.

Once the conflict presents itself though, the story becomes a bit predictable, with a few interesting diversions inbetween. Overall, it's a satisfying film. It certainly doesn't deserve the negative criticism it has received, being a box office bomb.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lukechristiansc

Feb 12, 2016

Bill Murray's performance in "Rock The Kasbah" is redeeming, look it's not perfect and doesn't need him or a cast this great, but a star like Murray makes this 1 hour and 40 minute film interesting, despite it's boring and I barely give a crap about the characters. While visiting KabulBill Murray's performance in "Rock The Kasbah" is redeeming, look it's not perfect and doesn't need him or a cast this great, but a star like Murray makes this 1 hour and 40 minute film interesting, despite it's boring and I barely give a crap about the characters. While visiting Kabul Afghanistan Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) a washed up music manager, who just lost his client Ronnie (Zooey Deschanel). He finds luck when he discovers a Pashtun teenager Salima Khan (Leem Hubany) singing under a cave, her dreams are becoming the first female to complete on the television show "Afghan Star." With help from a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), two war profiteers and a trigger-happy mercenary (Bruce Willis). Richie embarks on a mission to make sure his new protegee gets discovered. There are a few okay performances in this messy unwell made film.But this film is wild, and Murray makes this film interesting. 3 out of 5… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Jun 11, 2016

It's basically just Bill Murray having a crazy time in Afghanistan. He runs into mercenaries, arms dealers, and a really sexy Kate Hudson. Along the way there are explosions, stolen passports, and other crazy hijinks before the movie settles on the core plot of Murray's "Richie" stumblingIt's basically just Bill Murray having a crazy time in Afghanistan. He runs into mercenaries, arms dealers, and a really sexy Kate Hudson. Along the way there are explosions, stolen passports, and other crazy hijinks before the movie settles on the core plot of Murray's "Richie" stumbling onto some real talent. The results are unfortunately rather uneven.

As far as the comedy goes it's got some chuckles here and there and some one liners that may grant a little more of a reaction. Bill Murray is just as fantastic as ever, so that ensures at least a few laughs no matter how bad the material is. Not that it actually is bad, just sadly lackluster. While far from a laugh riot we at least get Murray's rendition of "Smoke On The Water" and some clever one liners.

The rest of the cast is just as good. They just aren't given as much to do. We've got the likes of Bruce Willis and Danny McBride in more humorous, albeit limited supporting roles. It's not hard to notice though that a lot of these characters don't stick around for long. They'll show up for a gag or two and maybe move the plot along a little and then they're gone. It naturally leads to some muddled storytelling.

Like I mentioned earlier in my review, a lot of crazy stuff happens before the movie starts to deliver the tale it wants to tell. When it does finally start telling it, the movie tries to offer up some commentary on Middle Eastern culture. It never quite manages to actually say anything and as a result there's nothing profound to be found here.

While there are some amusing bits scattered throughout it's just not funny enough to be considered a good comedy. It's also not smart enough to be considered good satire. With characters regularly coming and going in the plot it's kind of hard to care about what's going on, especially when some departures make elements of the plot hard to follow.

This is the Murray show. The actor is once again as likable as ever and elevates the material to something higher than it's worth. He manages to wring some laughs out of the dry material. Unfortunately he can't work miracles. All in all it's an ill-conceived movie. One that perhaps was trying to do something good, but was unable to do so thanks to the botched execution. Bill Murray is able to make it watchable, but unable to make it worth watching.

5.2/10… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

StevieGJD

Nov 9, 2015

Bill Murray can be so good in the right movies and so not good in the wrong ones. This is the latter. I hope he got paid a lot to be in this POS. There are mild moments of amusement, but far more moments of boredom. And Barry Levinson made this junk? That's just sad.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ralfbergs

Jan 8, 2017

I really thought this will be much better after seeing that Murray, Willis and other actors are in this. In the end I'm not even sure what all of it was meant to be. It had some parts where I thought it will get better but it changed fast and got worse again. Don't waste your time with thisI really thought this will be much better after seeing that Murray, Willis and other actors are in this. In the end I'm not even sure what all of it was meant to be. It had some parts where I thought it will get better but it changed fast and got worse again. Don't waste your time with this one. Only giving it a 4 because I like actors in it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bds92

Oct 24, 2015

No doubt it's a hell of a cast, but I can't see a movie with an average score of 29.

What really bugs me is this: the movie is called "Rock the Kasbah," yet the song "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash is not on the movie's soundtrack! How can that possibly be? What were they thinking? INo doubt it's a hell of a cast, but I can't see a movie with an average score of 29.

What really bugs me is this: the movie is called "Rock the Kasbah," yet the song "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash is not on the movie's soundtrack! How can that possibly be? What were they thinking? I thought that was a given! Maybe that's why the movie is rated so poorly.

Lesson learned: respect The Clash.… Expand

1 of 12 users found this helpful111

jimmydodgie

Oct 28, 2015

How can an actor go from a career high movie like St. Vincent to this movie which is pure torture to sit through. Blame game has to focus on the script by Mitch Glazer which is awful. But Levinson and Murray read the script so what were they thinking!

I wish i could get back my 1hr and 40How can an actor go from a career high movie like St. Vincent to this movie which is pure torture to sit through. Blame game has to focus on the script by Mitch Glazer which is awful. But Levinson and Murray read the script so what were they thinking!

I wish i could get back my 1hr and 40 minutes I took out of my life to watch this train wreck. We went to watch it on Tuesday night when movie prices were only $6.00. I still got ripped off. I should have checked the reviews beforehand. Only 20 people in the theatre. NOBODY LAUGHED. I repeat NOBODY LAUGHED in the theatre.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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