Review of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) by Luke B — 03 Feb 2011

Breakfast At Tiffany's is an absolute classic. The opening scene had me intrigued at once. It felt like an ending to a movie. The gentle and soft chords of Moon River playing, as a cab pulls up. This really felt as though it was early morning.

There was already a lot of sadness and charm in these few opening shots. As the film progresses, we follow a woman on a self destructive path. She seems so free, but really she is trapped by her efforts to try and remain free.

Hepburn is gorgeous and charming, but also sympathetic. She does well to make her lifestyle seem appealing, but then pushes us away with her attacks on those close to her. The dialogue and humor in this film are excellent.

Some of the dialogue seems so modern, such as the chit-chat between Fred Baby and the Tiffany's Clerk. It's casual, honest, and cleverly comments on the story itself. It all looks good and sounds good.

We also have some of the best feline performances of all time. The cats that played Cat, and their animal trainer, should all be saluted. The cat is great at interactions, and just being awesome. This isn't just a cat that sits around.

The ending is something so soft, but cruel, that it's a relief to see something so well handled. A moment that helps the characters and audience realise something, without being cheesy. Apart from Rooney's ill-judged performance, this film is perfect.