Casablanca (Snap Case)
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Movie Reviews of Casablanca (Snap Case)
Movie Review: A Timeless Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I've got this on DVD and every once in a while I pop it in to spend an evening remembering why it is so incredibly special. The characters in it are as fresh now as when I first saw it, and their struggles are just as meaningful. You watch Rick go from a wry lover to a jaded man who tries to pretend nothing matters any more. Ilsa is torn between loyalty to the man who taught her to be a woman and her passionate love for Rick, who makes her feel like one. Every character has strong motivations, and is acted superbly.The black and white might be a drawback in other movies, but here the use of shadows is amazing. The textures and depths come alive under the masterful hands of the cinematographer.
The DVD has a 'making of' which goes into a lot of the background and techniques, and also explains why the dialogue is so amazing. At least three sets of people worked on it, each adding in their own talents to make the romance real, the conversations an intellectual chess game, and the tensions high. They wrote it as they went, altering the dialogue to match the characters, so they were almost developed 'live' as the movie progressed.
In the end, I think what appeals to me the most is that Rick made a tough decision to do what he thought was 'right' instead of what would be best for him personally. He had to send his love off with another man, knowing that it was the best thing he could do. Ilsa had to choose between two men that she loved for very different reasons. It's an amazing film about responsibility and maturity in difficult conditions, and one I will gladly watch over and over again.
Movie Review: Casablanca: Romance .... and All That (4.5 stars)
Summary: 5 Stars
The magic of "Casablanca" lies mostly in its romance. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman movie pairing remained their sole and maybe that's the reason why their unimpeachable chemistry became unique. Their fate as star-crossed lovers trapped in Casablanca went down as one of the most memorable. The scenes of their love in Paris woke up 'the sentimentalist' (as Mr. Renault would say) in me. Just look at Rick (Bogart) watching Ilsa (Bergman) in a Paris cafe, over glasses of champagne, the moment she does not look at him. And Bergman? She's one of the most beautiful and best actresses ever to grace the screen, to say the least ("Here's looking at you, kid.") And her foreign accent just added to her charm.The melodrama is surrounded by patriotic, anti-fascist and adventure tones and given the fact that the film was released when the World War Two was far from over, it's understood that it captivated viewers back then, as it still does now.
There are many details in the movie that get it all just right. Whether it is the young Bulgarian couple, the Marseilleaise or other things you may not notice at first viewing but that justify the purchase of the DVD, as you can get back to your favourite scenes again and again, as I do. Besides, the DVD has a stunning picture quality.
The bottom line: with "Casablanca" you get one of the most acclaimed Hollywood movies and two of its most beloved stars in a marvellous coupling. These assets are far outweighing the occassional slow pace and datedness of the movie. Yes, "Casablanca" may remain a film for ages.
Movie Review: As Time Goes By . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
. . . This film simply gets better and better. How can it miss with such a cast? Not only Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilse, but also the ensemble group of minor characters. Who can forget oily-voiced Peter Lorre smuggling the letters of transit? Or rotund Sidney Greenstreet swatting flies at the Blue Parrot? My very favorite, however, is Claude Raines as Louis, the (lovably) corrupt Prefect of Police, whose heart is his "least vulnerable spot," and whose lines, which include "Round up the usual suspects!" are among the best and the most humorous in the movie. His shock, as he stuffs his pockets with his winnings, that gambling is going on at Rick's place, has to be one of the classic moments in cinema.
And, of course, one of the most brilliant scenes--my very favorite "three-handkerchief-blubbering" moment, in fact--is when Nazi Colonel Strasser (Conrad Veidt) and his officers are standing around the piano, belting out "Watch on the Rhine," and Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) orders the band to play the "Marseilleise"; although the two pieces of music blend perfectly at first, the "Marseilleise" triumphs in the end. Vive la France!!!
I think that one of the secrets of this movie's greatness is that in addition to the outstanding actors, the writers and the director have combined the right mixture of romance, adventure, and patriotism with a huge dollop of humor. A time-tested recipe that seems to have been forgotten in so many films made today.
Movie Review: We'll always have Casablanca
Summary: 5 Stars
I laughed out loud when a younger co-worker told me he had never seen Casablanca - "I don't like black and white movies" was his reason. Instead of mocking him, I felt pity - as if a person had said he had never tasted chocolate ice cream. Yes, Casablance is that good a movie. The cast, cinematography, plot, script and acting are as close to perfect as you could imagine. Bogart's stunning portrayal of a bitter, cynical man with a broken heart should have won him an Oscar. When he describes his politics to a visiting Nazi honcho with the phrase, "I'm a drunkard..." it is both comedy and tragedy.
To me, the mark of a memorable movie is if there are memorable, quotable lines and here, Casablanca leads the league. "I'm shocked, shocked! that there's gambling going on here." - "We'll always have Paris." - "Here's looking at you kid," - and the phrase Bogart never said "Play it again Sam." Actually, he said, "You played it for her you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can. Play it!" Experts say this is probably the most popular movie in the world, an opinion I share. You need this DVD - find someone you love, cuddle on the sofa and let time go by.
Proof that there is a higher power can be traced to the fact that B-movie icon, Ronald Ray-Gun was offered the part of Rick and he turned it down. "Who wants to play opposite an unknown Swedish actress?" was his reason. The world ows a debt of gratitude to the best decision that man ever made !
Movie Review: So Quotable, Part of Our Culture! Highly Recommended!
Summary: 5 Stars
Casablanca is one of the classic movie greats. This is Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman at their best, and the supporting cast is full of well known actors of the time (Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Dooley Wilson).
Set in Casablanca during WW II, the plot focuses on the somewhat upscale "Rick's Cafe Americaine" where a healthy amount of black market deals are made, a lot of liquor is sold, and gambling is a losing proposition for most of the patrons. Casablanca was the hub for refugees trying to get passage to Portugal and the Americas and many of the documents required for transit had to be procured through questionable means. This is where the story takes off with the love triangle between Bogart, Bergman, and Henreid.
We have been watching a lot of classic movies with our teens to show them where a lot of the quotes they hear come from, and Casablanca is very rich territory indeed: "Play it, Sam", "Here's looking at you kid", "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship", "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.", "Round up the usual suspects", "We'll always have Paris"
This movie has everything, including great acting, romance, action, good music, and exotic locations. The cinematography is simply amazing and gives the movie a truly grand feel.
This is a classic that shouldn't be missed! Highly Recommended!