10/10
Let's face it, how many comedies have an attempted suicide in? With this obvious classic from 1960, director Billy Wilder saw fit to darken his palette even further, with a tale of moral bankruptcy, greed and sexism.
In the course of the first ten minutes, as with its illustrious predecessor Some Like It Hot, it is clear this is not your usual screwball comedy. Cary Grant would have been a high powered lawyer, Jimmy Stewart would have been a politician, but Jack Lemmon is perfectly suited to the role of.... insurance clerk. And not a high powered one either! This is a man who is at the bottom rung of his organisation - a guy at a numbered desk who has one asset - his apartment.
In return for consideration and favours from the office bigwigs, he lets them use it for secret trysts with their mistresses (and they ALL have one) so often he has to keep a diary and take bookings. He stays at work and can only go home after they're...er... "done".
The film's depth is obvious when it becomes clear that the protagonist is not being forced to do these things, but is using them to climb the corporate ladder, and possibly to impress the charming lift girl with whom he becomes besotted. It is all his idea.
His choice is between the accepted norm of "furthering your career" and that of being true to who is really is.It becomes clear both through the story and Lemmon's performance that while he gains success throught the use of the apartment it leaves him thoroughly alone and thoroughly miserable.
The casting of Shirley MacClaine is another of the films Aces in the hole. She is so lovely, so sweet and so likable you can't help but almost fall for her yourself, and her piteous situation is all the more affecting because of it. I may be biased, since it is very possible she has bewitched me with her bright eyes and happy smile.... (sigh) but her performance is as pitch perfect as it is dark.
I don't really want to eulogise about the films every plot point, or its integrity (it never compromises itself with indulgence or self mockery) so I will simply say this: see it! see it! see it!
In my opinion it is superior in most ways to Some Like It Hot.
It really is that good.
In fact, I believe it's bloody perfect.
Flame On!
A
Monday, January 19, 2009
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Love this film
ReplyDeleteIt is probably as good if not better than 'Some Like It Hot', but doesn't seem to rate as high with the general populace.
Ah well. They don't know what they're missing..
(But it's not a 10/10!)
Awesome, awesome film.
ReplyDeleteSome Like It Hot is still better, but still.
Might not have helped that we watched it at Cinema 3 and, despite the room being almost completely empty, got sat really close to by a mildly hysterical, very upper-middle class average Daily Mail Reader of the female persuasion who sort-of ruined the atmos by laughing at weird bits and gasping/groaning with shock and offense at other bits. Keep your thoughts to the ride home, lady!
Gabstar