Lost Weekend

Year: 1945

Grade: B+

Country: USA

Director: Wilder

Review

there’s a lot to say about this film. billy wilder, jane wyman and ray milland all did a great job with the film. wilder’s storytelling is compelling and varies enough from other noir to make it interesting. the first flashback of the film doesn’t occur until 30 minutes into the movie and then there are a few more as the film progresses. milland and wyman are great together. milland sells the role of an alcoholic as well as anyone this side of nicholas cage. wyman is great as the girlfriend who is torn apart by milland’s addiction. her acting in the final sequence turns what, in other hands, might be contrived, into an inspired and inspiring moment. miklos rozsa’s score is right where it needs to be, but that’s not to say that it’s old hat. in some ways it sounded to me like a definitive film noir score. i don’t know how to really describe it…it has flows which convey the hope of the viewer, but ebbs that match the reality of the protagonist. it’s also a fitting score because there’s an almost star trek, psychedelic leitmotif that is used which works well with the alcoholism theme. john seitz’s cinematography had some flourishes here and there, but it didn’t blow me away. it’s a good thing the film was in such capable hands since it’s a story that easily could have turned to trite melodrama or, possibly worse, an unaffecting propaganda piece. as is, though, the film strikes a good balance and is able to convey rather accurately the allure and pitfalls of alcoholism. a very fine film.