Review of All About Eve (1950) by Jake C — 29 Aug 2018

Some films rely on high-octane, hyper-kinetic action set pieces to keep eyes glued to the screen and butts raised just off their seats; other films drum up heart-pounding, ear-busting soundtracks; and others still dream up eye-popping, mind-blowing oneiric visuals.

ALL ABOUT EVE, on the other hand, is, at bottom, all about the dialogue and its delivery, tongue-twisting words performed with gut-wrenching gusto, and so more in line with the stage than with the screen in that way.

These words are like fireworks, explosive and exciting, made of music and crackling fire, dense with allusions and acidic with wit-and in a movie about the potential violence and power to wound of words when wielded by serpentine tongues, the screenplay is as much the star of the show as the cast, who sink their teeth into these wisecracks and whip snaps with relish.