Despite its age, message, and subject matter, "The Lost Weekend" never delves into cheesy, laughable PSA territory and, instead, contains a most impressive and powerful sense of realism. As a matter of fact, it doesn't feel like this film has aged a day since its 1945 release; it was a genuinely powerful film then, and is a genuinely powerful film now!
I have heard some people label this film as "silly" and "dated", but I simply cannot understand these claims. "Reefer Madness" is certainly ridiculous, filled with obvious propaganda and straight up lies; but no lies are to be found in this earth shatteringly strong tale of a man's tragic downfall (although it does have a hopeful ending, which is executed in a way that it doesn't feel at all forced or unrealistic).
While Billy Wilder is most known for his comedies, he was also a master of drama in his earlier career. Films like "Double Indemnity" and "Sunset Blvd" are two films that are primarily dramatic (although "Sunset Blvd" does have its darkly hilarious moments throughout, which makes me consider it to be a drama first and a black comedy second), but are also among Wilder's most well known. With "The Lost Weekend", Wilder may have crafted his darkest film. It is a story of addiction that is told nearly as powerfully as the infamously shocking and graphic masterpiece "Requiem for a Dream". However, this film is even better, for it managed to get that same impact while having been made years upon years ago; a time when some might say that cinema hadn't fully "matured", at least not mainstream Hollywood).
I must also note the brilliance of this film on a technical level. For the most part, the performances are somewhat standard, 40's performances, but Ray Milland is different. His performance is still smashingly powerful today and he is able to showcase this downfall with perfection. It is also wonderfully directed and shot. Wilder's lens turns this classic tragedy into a film noir, with sharp, black and white cinematography and an ever-present sense of doom. I was also impressed at how Wilder lets visuals tell the story a lot of the time, rather than words; which provides me with yet another example of how ahead of its time this film truly is. And, last but certainly not least, the score by Miklós Rózsa is indescribably brilliant. The soundtrack flat out adds another layer of horror and emotion.
A quality film on every level, "The Lost Weekend" manages to remain strong and realistic today; never seeming silly or dated.
I have heard some people label this film as "silly" and "dated", but I simply cannot understand these claims. "Reefer Madness" is certainly ridiculous, filled with obvious propaganda and straight up lies; but no lies are to be found in this earth shatteringly strong tale of a man's tragic downfall (although it does have a hopeful ending, which is executed in a way that it doesn't feel at all forced or unrealistic).
While Billy Wilder is most known for his comedies, he was also a master of drama in his earlier career. Films like "Double Indemnity" and "Sunset Blvd" are two films that are primarily dramatic (although "Sunset Blvd" does have its darkly hilarious moments throughout, which makes me consider it to be a drama first and a black comedy second), but are also among Wilder's most well known. With "The Lost Weekend", Wilder may have crafted his darkest film. It is a story of addiction that is told nearly as powerfully as the infamously shocking and graphic masterpiece "Requiem for a Dream". However, this film is even better, for it managed to get that same impact while having been made years upon years ago; a time when some might say that cinema hadn't fully "matured", at least not mainstream Hollywood).
I must also note the brilliance of this film on a technical level. For the most part, the performances are somewhat standard, 40's performances, but Ray Milland is different. His performance is still smashingly powerful today and he is able to showcase this downfall with perfection. It is also wonderfully directed and shot. Wilder's lens turns this classic tragedy into a film noir, with sharp, black and white cinematography and an ever-present sense of doom. I was also impressed at how Wilder lets visuals tell the story a lot of the time, rather than words; which provides me with yet another example of how ahead of its time this film truly is. And, last but certainly not least, the score by Miklós Rózsa is indescribably brilliant. The soundtrack flat out adds another layer of horror and emotion.
A quality film on every level, "The Lost Weekend" manages to remain strong and realistic today; never seeming silly or dated.