366. The Apartment

The Apartment
1960
Directed by Billy Wilder

This is a comedy that is pretty much universally liked by everyone; you would be hard pressed to find a bad review of the film.  Today, I will stick with the public opinion (mostly because I am afraid of nasty comments) and gush about the movie.

I feel kind of weird labeling this film as a comedy.  There are some funny parts but frankly, the movie is kind of depressing.  This is the story of C.C. Baxter who, in an attempt to help his career, lets the executives of the company use his apartment for their extramarital affairs.  He has a change of heart, however, when he realizes that one of the girls his boss takes to his apartment is Fran, the woman he loves.

Like I said, it is hard to call this film a comedy.  I almost feel like the movie is pretending to be a comedy in order to convey its message about the corruption of the rich and powerful in a light hearted manner.  I mean, attempted suicide doesn't exactly have me slapping my knees.  I would consider it more of a drama with some laughs along the way.

Anyway, here comes the previously promised gushing.  What an offbeat and original movie.  Even fifty years later, the movie still seemed fresh and unpredictable.  I have always loved films about characters struggling to overcome the stifling ordinariness of their lives and Jack Lemmon plays the role perfectly.

A great film and you don't have to take my word for it; you can take everyone else's!

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

#80 in AFI's top 100.

Inspired American Beauty.

The film's famous last line, "Shut up and deal", was thought of on set at the last minute.

Trailer:

341. Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot
1959
Directed by Billy Wilder

I was stunned when I realized I loved this movie.  I have never thought men dressing in drag was funny.  I feel like most comedic plays I have gone to have to include at least one gag where a man is dressed up like a woman.  What is that about?

However, Billy Wilder didn't just rely on the "oh my god, a man is in a dress, how outrageous is that" gag for laughs.  This movie is full of risqué jokes and witty dialogue that makes the film absolutely hilarious.

Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) witness the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre and are forced to go into hiding.  Posing as Josephine and Daphne, they join an all girl band on its way to Miami.  Of course, they both immediately fall for Sugar Kane, played extraordinarily well by Marilyn Monroe.

I absolutely adore this movie.  The acting is fantastic; each character has excellent comedic timing, even the gangsters who have very few lines.

There is really nothing to dislike about the film.  It is extremely quotable and my sister and I often reference it in conversations.  A great movie that is as funny today as it was in 1959.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

It took Marilyn Monroe 47 takes to get the line "It's Me, Sugar" correct and 59 takes to get the line "Where's the bourbon?" correct.

Wilder blasted Monroe after this movie was shot and did not invite her to the wrap party.

#22 in AFI's top 100.

232. The Big Carnival

The Big Carnival
Also called Ace In the Hole which is what it is under Netflix
1951
Directed by Billy Wilder

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!  Hope everyone at a great time or at least, um, survived.

I popped this movie to watch while I unpacked from my trip.  I opened The Book and realized I had seen the next five films on the list.  This is going to be one of those times that I write for hours to catch up, partly due to my obsessiveness and party due to the fact that I have no life.

All right, this movie centers on Kirk Douglas, a very unethical journalist, who takes advantage of a man trapped in a mine shaft for the media coverage.  Laughs ensue.  Just kidding, it is really quite serious.

So the message of the movie is timeless.  The media is cruel in its exploitation of tragedy and we are just as bad for eating it up.  The extreme examples are, of course, things like Princess Di's death but it works on a much smaller, local level as well.  Like the main character says, good news is no news.

Of course, nowadays the message isn't as fresh as it might have been in 1951.  Still, it is extremely relevant.  It is interesting to watch the public in this film and cringe, but then realize that you might have the exact same reaction.

We get a great performance by Kirk Douglas, who I always seem to underestimate, with reasonably good performances from the supporting cast.  Overall a great and underrated film.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Huge box office flop upon its release.

Wilder was sued for copyright infringement and the case went all the way to the California Supreme Court where he lost.

229. Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard
1950
Directed by Billy Wilder

This is probably one of my favorite films, certainly my favorite film noir.  Everything about this movie is flawless: the directing, the acting, and the dialogue.  Add to that, this movie can be genuinely frightening, although I am sure many jaded viewers would disagree.

Gloria Swanson plays an aging silent film actress star who is determined to remain young (think What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?).  William Holden is a Johnny Everyman is a nobody who unfortunately gets wrapped up in her crazy.  The movie starts with Holden shot in the back in a swimming pool and in true film noir style, goes back and fills in the blanks with voiceovers.

When I said the movie was scary, I was not just talking about Swanson's chilling performance (although that picture above is pretty creepy).  The directing is extremely well done, making Norma Desmond's mansion look like a house of horrors complete with a creepy butler.

There is also a certain sentimental aspect that came with watching this movie for me.  Having see so many silent films in my journey, I also felt a pang that that era was over (although I did not lose my sanity over it).

Just a fantastic movie; film noir does not get better than this.  Are we done with film noir with this movie.  Here come the tears!

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

#16 in AFI's top 100.

Cecil De Mille demanded $20,000 to appear for a cameo.

Buster Keaton did a cameo.

"All right, Mr. DeMille.  I am ready for my close up," is listed as #7 in AFI's top 100 movie lines.

179. The Lost Weekend

The Lost Weekend
1945
Directed by Billy Wilder

As the book states, this is a monumental film for the United States.  In the thirties, drunk people were mainly used as comic relief.  People were so busy protesting Prohibition that directors rarely tackled the issue of alcoholism.


The most notable thing about this movie is certainly the acting; I have rarely seen a Best Actor Oscar better deserved.  Ray Milland captures the persona of an alcoholic so perfectly that I can't imagine he didn't struggle with drink himself.  This movie is about an alcoholic writer (why is it always the writer?) who spends a miserable weekend trying to resist the drink.


I enjoyed this movie although it was certainly cringe worthy during his more desperate phases.  Fresh and well made.


RATING: ****-


Interesting Facts:


The liquor industry offered five million dollars to Paramount to stop the film's release.


Voted one of the most dangerous movies by Premiere magazine.


Prohibition groups also protested the release of the film, stating that it would encourage drinking.  Talk about missing the point.

172. Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity
1944
Directed by Billy Wilder

How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?


There are some films that epitomize their genre like no other.  Titanic is romance.  Star Wars is science fiction.  Double Indemnity is film noir.  The perfect evidence for this is the quote I have above.  Even if you haven't seen this movie, I am sure you can picture some fast talking, serious man saying this in a shadowy room.  I love this film, mostly because it is the perfect food for a dreary Monday.


For those of you who don't know, this movie is about an insurance investigator who gets involved with a slipper dame.  She plans on murdering her husband for money and wants the all-American Fred MacMurrey to get involved.  Naturally, things go sour.  Ooo, talking like this makes me feel like Newman at 0:54.

Anyway, this is an astounding film in all aspects, whether it be acting, plot, or script.  Check it out with some hot chocolate and a cloudy day. RATING: ***** Interesting Facts:  Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler did not get along during filming.  Chandler claimed Wilder flaunting his womanizing to make him feel bad. #29 in AFI's top 100 movies.  Remake with Robert Redford never got off the ground.  Thank the lord.  No one realized how stupid Barbara Stanwyck's wig looked until after filming a large portion of the scenes.