Review of The Lost Weekend (1945) by Matt M — 27 May 2013

Escaping the watchful gaze of his caring brother and girlfriend, an unaccomplished writer goes on a weekend of drinking leading him to disastrous and tragic consequences. Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend is a powerful drama which boldly deals with the issue of alcoholism, and it was the first mainstream film to do so in such a direct manner.

Its realism approach is admirable and daring, much like the work of Italian neo-realists at the same time was, and its impact as well as every other aspect doesn't seem to have aged at all. The Lost Weekend is also carried by a strong lead performance by Ray Milland, who in a delicate role, portrays his character's hard and almost pathetic inevitable downfall.