Review of The Apartment (1960) by Kevin N — 07 Jun 2010
Billy Wilder is one of the finest directors to ever work in Hollywood, and this is one of his finest achievements. It's razor sharp, sprinkled with crackling comic dialogue which is always just ironic enough to be funny and just real enough to be scary.
The plot, like most of Wilder's films, is an absolute nightmare. Here is a man at the end of his wits, but every time he jumps off a bridge he lands on another one. What is remarkable about this story is Baxter, one of the strongest and most likable central characters I have ever seen.
He's so delicately human, so pathetically flawed, yet his actions always make sense- even if they shouldn't. Shirley MacLaine plays his romantic interest, though she doesn't necessarily reciprocate the feelings; their relationship is made out of the things real love is- doubt, fear, awkwardness- and this is why it is such a pleasure to observe.
This review of The Apartment (1960) was written by Kevin N on 07 Jun 2010.
The Apartment has generally received very positive reviews.
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