Review of All About Eve (1950) by Blake P — 17 Aug 2011

"All About Eve" is as good as a movie can get. Today, it holds the record from having the most AA noms, tying with "Titanic" at 14. Isn't that a good sign? I gotta admit, this was a movie I was extremely nervous about seeing.

Yes, it gets great reviews, and is considered one of the finest movies ever made, but there's always that part of everyone that there might be a chance you won't like it. Luckily, I swallowed my guts, and saw this.

Finally. This is one of the most amazing films ever, and that is almost an understatement. Joseph L. Mankiewicz has always been one of my favorite directors so I was not surprised he handled everything so perfectly.

His direction is flawless and keeps the film in fine form the entire time. To get a bonus, he wrote the script too. Every line is brilliant, meaningful, and always has nasty comedic flair. Davis and Baxter really are the best people to play their parts.

Bette is stellar as Margo Channing, and this could be her best performance (though she thought her best was "Dark Victory"). By the time this movie was made, she though her career was over. Anne Baxter later said: "She really though she was finished.

Can you believe that?" This movie proved that [for once] Davis was wrong, and should have won that Oscar. Winner Judy Holliday was great in "Born Yesterday", but seriously? I don't think it takes a lot of talent to put on a squeaky voice and cry for a role.

Anne also does a superior job in transition to her co-star. Mankiewicz does a great job of making Eve not become evil pretty much until the ending, and Baxter certainly gets you believing she's the sweet, innocent wannabe, like in the beginning.

Had Baxter not requested to be nominated as Best Actress, she would have won the other award. But who cares? It doesn't affect the movie! You get a great supporting cast too, with Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, and George Sanders.

Anyways, there's not much more I can say. "All About Eve" is something amazing.