Review of The Lost Weekend (1945) by Buddy A — 06 Dec 2008
This film takes the usually lovable "drunk" character and forces him into a very serious light. Milland definitely deserved the Oscar he won for his expert portrayal of Don Birnam, a writer whose constant struggles with the bottle fuel the narrative.
Look for some great symbolism here (especially circles and, by correlation, spheres), as well as some fascinating cinematography. This film is the first to use a theremin in its soundtrack, and composer Miklos Rozsa utilizes it brilliantly; its haunting, eerie overtones perfectly match the allure that alcohol exhibits over Don.
Again, Wilder shows us here why he's such a cinematic genius. Highly recommended.
This review of The Lost Weekend (1945) was written by Buddy A on 06 Dec 2008.
The Lost Weekend has generally received very positive reviews.
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