Review of In a Lonely Place (1950) by John R — 20 Jun 2004

In A Lonely Place -.

Pretty darn good film that has some pretty good acting by some of the actors. The ending was a bit anticlimactic though, and the whole project failed to move me very deeply. It was interesting, but hasn't really made me think or reflect or anything. Ultimately an example of how "three great scenes and no bad ones" doesn't necessarily equal a great film. I think a director should for more than just three.

An American in Paris -.

A great musical, yes, but oscar worthy? Probably not. The sap (and it is kind of sappy) works well in a sappy kind of way. Of course, this is another one of those silly films where our hero has two options as to who to love and takes a choice that I personally disagree with. His patron was so much hotter than his French fling. I stand by that.

Also, the film would've been immeasurably better by cutting off a few minutes or so from the end. Have it end so that the final image is Gene Kelly alone, holding the rose. Poignant, powerful. Instead, we get our heroine jumping out of the car and running back to him, happily ever after.

I like happily ever after stories, sure, but this time it just felt like the pulling of a punch. After all of that time devoted to that final musical number, which seemed to me to be all about him losing and then learning to deal with that lost love, he gets to have that love again. It conflicts in a way that drags power away from the story. A weak 9/10.

Blue.

Bravura opening and closing, but I had some problems with the pacing of the very center. Also, I wasn't sure if I appreciated the intrusion of the idea that the musical piece was for the unification of Europe, which seemed to be politicizing a story that didn't need it. In fact, it sort of reminded me of "Hero" in that way, but whereas Hero's political subject matter is very overt, Blue's is very subtle. However, Hero balances it out better by being a bit more passionate than Blue. All in all, a strong 9.