1948
Directed by Abraham Polonsky
_02.jpg)
All right, so I was waiting forever for this film since it had a long wait on Netflix. Then I realized the full movie was available on YouTube for free. I love feeling smart.
Anyway, this movie was a breath of fresh air. As much as I love film noir, I was getting a bit sick of the formula. However, as the book states, this movie falls uncomfortably into the genre of film noir. It is hard to describe the differences between this film and regular film noir; it is so subtle.
So the basic plot of this movie is that an rather crooked lawyer and his hot brother get involved in a racket. First of all, the love story is much more modern and realistic than something like "sometimes murder smells like honeysuckle". The dialogue also feels a lot more realistic; there is no threats of "swift punches in the nose."
Overall, it was fun. Some interesting questions about what ethics really are were raised. Worth a place in this list.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Leo was probably just jealous because Joe got all the looks. That's a shame.
One of Martin Scorsese's favorite films.
So many great films in your archives that must feel lonely and unloved that no-one replied when you did them...
ReplyDeleteLets continue to have a great agree fest Amanda..
A stunning film, one of the great hits with me from the list.
OK, I came in with a decision I would like it .. it is usually listed as a Noir .. but as you say, sort of not quite.
I forgot about this one too! A great film!
DeleteThanks for a small flurry of replies.. always good to know you saw and appreciated our remarks.
ReplyDeleteLoved the sexual tension in this movie! Just really fun to watch. This is why I love the 1001 list. I never would have seen this (or my new fave, Letter from an Unknown Woman) without it!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel... always good to see you in here and giving the deserved renewed life to some of Amanda's archive.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely... the joy of stumbling across a film you just wouldn't have heard of but for the book.
Not quite the case in this.. I'd have watched this anyway, but great o see it getting the attention it deserves.
Yay! We are all in agreement. And I just realized that I said this film was a breath of fresh hair. Yikes.
DeleteScorcese has about 1000 favourite films. I went to the Scorcese exhibition in Melbourne last week and got a pretty good glimpse of his mind. I think he is an even bigger movie geek than Tarantino.
ReplyDeleteOh that must have been cool! I'm jealous!
Delete