Review of Casablanca (1943) by Micah F — 07 Apr 2013

This film may not impress the more anxious and demanding of the modern movie-goers, but to those of us who attempt to understand and appreciate the art of cinema on its own terms, Casablanca was revolutionary. Not only did it have some of the most artistic and engaging cinematography going at the time of its release, it managed to capture the hearts and minds of virtually anyone who watched its majestic story unfold.

Picture this: you're introduced to a small part of the world and an even smaller band of colorful vibrantly-written characters. All of them serve a purpose to the story, and they all have stories of their own. And this movie-going experience is focusing on this one spot on the map during a much larger conflict: World War II.

The war was happening at the time of this film's production, so the writers and producers knew all too well just how important it was to present this story as realistically as possible. But beneath all the grit, a truly heterogenous existence shines brightly. A love story in the three acts, woven throughout the more thrilling aspects of deception, war and survival. And the film has everything a good movie should have: characters striking in their individuality, memorable lines of dialogue ("What's your occupation?" "I'm a drunkard."), and a killer ending that sends shivers up and down my spine every time I watch it. A rare film that seems to get even better with age, Casablanca is not to be missed.