For a film about an alcoholic, The Lost Weekend shows less drunkenness than you would expect. Instead, the brilliant performance of the protagonist funnels his energy into another state of mind - desperation. Over the course of a few days, we see drawn out scenes where he scrabbles around his apartment for hidden bottles, begs for a drink at nearby bars and steals to fund his addition. It's a portrayal that holds back nothing, baring tears and pleading entreaties so close to the camera that the audience feels like they are the ones being implored. Eventually, the consequences of this single weekend come crashing down and he ends up in a hospital for those at their lowest. His brother and his fiancee play the role of the witless relatives who just can't figure out how to help and end up just as desperate for a solution. As a film, it can get a tad melodramatic and repetitive at times, but as a piece of acting, it shows just how much alcohol addiction can turn lives into a sad series of constant desperation.
Review of The Lost Weekend
