The Lost Weekend
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Movie Reviews of The Lost Weekend
Movie Review: Drinking in circles
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie is full of great quotes but as soon as I heard this one I was hooked:
[About the wet drink circle left on the bar from the bottom of Don's shot glass. Nat reaches toward it with a rag...]
[Don Birnam] - "Don't wipe it away, Nat. Let me have my little vicious circle. You know, the circle is the perfect geometric figure. No end, no beginning."
A few moments later there's a transition to a close-up of the bar top showing a cluster wet rings all linked together while a considerably drunker version of Don Birnam can be heard slurring his speech.
Brilliant.
Movie Review: The Lost Weekend
Summary: 5 Stars
Billy Wilder's searing look at the "problem" of alcoholism was harsh, unpleasant stuff for audiences to swallow in the '40s, but Paramount execs--who nearly shelved "Weekend" over pressure from temperance and liquor lobbyists--were thrilled when it became a huge hit. That's due entirely to Milland's riveting, Oscar-winning portrayal of Don, a man so hysterically self-destructive that he sacrifices his dignity and others' goodwill to keep himself in a state of perpetual stupor. Cheery it's not, but "Lost Weekend" is a landmark work, showcasing Wilder at his gut-wrenching best. Wyman also excels in an early role as the concerned Helen.Movie Review: One's Too Many and a Hundred's Not Enough
Summary: 5 Stars
As with all the great products on Amazon, the spotlight reviews have just about covered everything that should impel one to watch this fine film. I should only like to resonate and emphasize those points.
At its core, The Lost Weekend is a didactic movie that tries to show all the degenerative aspects of alcoholism, with a self-conscious sense of unflinching character. Of course, by now there are plenty of films--both fictional and documentaries--that take on the same goal. The beauty of this one, and the reason for watching it, is in the approach the director takes to relate the message.
To make sure we sympathize with Don Birnam, rather than see him as a doomed sod of a separate class from us, the director employs the film noir style. Don is not a bum or a wife-beater, but an intelligent, witty fellow, with his own quirks (like constantly putting a cigarette the wrong way in) who is driven to drink by the weight of his ambitions--a typical film noir presentation of an essentially decent man corrupted by a wrong decision. As his vice starts to dominate and he tumbles into the abyss, his surroundings reflect the change by moving from the bright cheeriness of an opera or the prospect of a relaxing weekend in the countryside to the dark and seedy halfway ward of the hospital. Here, too, the film noir technique of stark lighting contrasts and dominating shadows play an effective role. Ultimately, as Don reaches rock bottom, he intends to find redemption one way or another, although the ending picks, somewhat superficially, the cheerier of the alternatives.
The reason for watching this movie, then, is not the plot necessarily--even by watching the trailer, you should find out it will focus entirely on a man's spiritual dissolution--but for the empathy it aptly evokes. Don is fully fleshed out, is portrayed as a convincing representation of even the most good-natured person in the audience, and the result is that the viewer feels the heartfelt pangs of withdrawal almost as much as Don himself.
Whoever wants to see superb manipulation of lighting and character development, in other words, need look no further than this noir classic. Everything that needs to support these things is present--a great director, fantastic acting, memorable writing (a quote of which is the title for this review), all these are present. The only thing it lacks is consistency with the ending, but even that is handled so eloquently that you won't walk away with disappointment.
As a side note, since this is a review for the whole product, the DVD has nice video quality, though some of the very dark scenes do show signs of "static." The features include only the trailer, and images of production notes and actor/production team biographies. Though lacking in all, at least the production notes are very pithy.
Movie Review: LOVE IT!
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a man in recovery, I was really pleased by this performance by Ray Milland. Very real. The scheming and the hiding of the booze in his apartment. He deserved his Oscar!
By the way, was he Bryan Ferry's Dad? Ha Ha Ha!
Movie Review: A Very Powerful Film by the Great Billy Wilder and Performed Masterfully by Oscar Winner Ray Milland
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time I saw "The Lost Weekend" was about a year ago on TCM and in my own opinion, it was a excellent film. Billy Wilder, who had just done "Double Indemnity", does not miss a step. Ray Milland's performance as Don Birnam, who was chosen as the star, after several of Hollywood's box office draws had turned it down, was perfect for the part and most deservedly won the Oscar. Jane Wyman was perfect as Don's girlfriend, Helen St. James, who stuck by Don no matter what the outcome. There was also the support of Philip Terry, Howard DaSilva and Doris Downing, who helped to add to the film as well.
While the ending may seem a bit rosy in some regards, any other way in which the film would have ended, possibly with Don committing suicide would have violated the Production Code, which still was prevalent during the 1940's. Also, to take into consideration of World War II coming to an end when the film was made, a rosy ending would probably help to bring a little bit of optimism after years of fighting and bloodshed. That's just what I have surmised from this.
Anyways, excellent film and performances. This film is highly recommended and should not be missed!!