Review of The Apartment (1960) by Jason V — 27 Jun 2012
The worst thing I can say about The Apartment is its too long. The length-over 2 hours-does not help protagonist CC Baxter (Lemmon) look like anything but a schmuck for nearly the entire run time. Nor does it help female lead Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) in the same regard.
Nor does it allow the corporate bigwigs using Baxter's apartment for their own adultery to be anything more than mustache-twirling meanies. The strength of the film isn't in the story or the direction, but in the actors.
Specifically Lemmon. From the first frame, he is an affable every man, not necessarily looking to move up the corporate ladder, but taking full advantage of the opportunities presented him. There is an empathy he elicits, something which makes the audience want him to succeed despite how he helps his bosses cheat on their wives.
And make no mistake: for a 1960 film, this is risky subject matter. All the male characters, except for the doctor and Lemmon, cheat on their wives. His neighbors think Lemmon is a sexual dynamo. There's plenty of drinking and rationalizing assisting in adultery.
Oh, and an attempted suicide.
This review of The Apartment (1960) was written by Jason V on 27 Jun 2012.
The Apartment has generally received very positive reviews.
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