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Reviews
The Lost Weekend (1945)
A Chilling Performance Of Despiration And Alcoholism
An incredible story. This film deserved every award it received, particularly Ray Milland and Billy Wilder (it should have got one for Music as well, with its gripping score and the haunting sound of the Theremin. Playing a man with obvious intelligence, but yet, an incredible problem: alcoholism. A man who tried, but succumbed to the shot glass and bottle. One of the most tearing scene, is when he walks through the city with his only possession, his typewriter, desperate to pawn it for more booze, only to find they are closed in observance of a religious holiday. The anguish. His adventure into madness in the asylum. The terror of the night, and the desperate wait in the morning. The final torture; his lapse into the nightmare of delirium, which is as tense a scene as you will see in any movie. And the end. Does he succeed? Or is his fate of millions of people, falling into the cliff, and never recovering. Milland is brilliant, he plays this role almost like he really lived it (and it's my understanding that he was a heavy drinker in real life). It has the same drama as "Days of Wine and Roses", but not quite the romantic rope that is constantly interlinked in that particular movie. A movie that that is tense from the very note of the opening title. The brilliant film editing that portrays his hallucinations in a terrorizing fashion. I have seen this movie in recovery, and there are parts that still give me the chills, just like Milland. Get or rent the DVD version, excellently remastered. And the book that this is based on, written by Charles Jackson is equally up to the task, and its writing makes you not want to put the book down. A movie that should be seen in treatment centers. One is too many, a million's not enough, and this movie shows it. See it today.
The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
A Charming Movie That Has Not Lost It's Touch
When I was a young lad, I saw this movie, and it touched me. There are just some movies, that do that. The desperation of Andrew finding trying to find the cat, and at the end, it warms you and you cannot help but have a tear in your eye. Susan Hampshire is beautiful in this movie, in both character and attractiveness. The other character actors hold their own as well. The scenery is nice. The movie is a bit dated in certain parts, but there is no profanity or scenes that might be disturbing to young children. This movie is available in both VHS and DVD, but definitely buy the DVD for the extra features, plus it will keep it from wearing out when your children or grandchildren want to watch it again. A wonderful family movie to keep ready for that rainy day. Enjoy!!!