Review of Sweet Smell of Success (1957) by Adam R — 06 Jan 2008
A brutal, brilliant expose of the politics involved in the media and how innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire between big stories and even bigger egos.
Tony Curtis gives a great performance as Sidney Falco, a smarmy, obsequious press agent who gives into the whims of megalomaniacal columnist J.J. Hunsecker when he burns bridges and destroys lives and livelihoods just to break up Hunsecker's sister's romance with a jazz guitarist at the newspaperman's request.
British director Alexander Mackendrick adjusts himself well to America, skewering what goes on in the back alleys and offices of the papers as the term "muckraking" takes on a brand new meaning with characters like Falco and Hunsecker onscreen. It's hard to believe a filmmaker so adapt at insubstantial Ealing comedies could prove to be such a brilliant satirist but his shadowy work, and the bilious, magnificent script, make this a true gem.
This review of Sweet Smell of Success (1957) was written by Adam R on 06 Jan 2008.
Sweet Smell of Success has generally received very positive reviews.
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