Review of The Lost Weekend (1945) by Lanning : — 28 Nov 2006
One's too many, and a hundred's not enough. Very much like The Deer Hunter and Elephant, this is an inordinately difficult movie, for me personally, to watch. I have known, loved, and suffered with so many alcoholics in my lifetime.
Ray Milland, a grossly underrated talent, is absolutely on top of his game here. This watershed cinematic work follows him moving, from one exquisitely painful scene to the next, like a crescedoing waltz, into oblivion.
Although the racial stereotyping is unfortunate, I cannot bring myself to take away stars for that. So unlike, for example, Breakfast at Tiffany's There are so many heart-wrenching scenes. The one where Milland is forced to steal the woman's purse in the restaurant is just one of the great ones.
Why oh why did Ray Milland feel he had to go to the "B" movie circuit? What a great actor. Another one whom I so very sorely miss.
This review of The Lost Weekend (1945) was written by Lanning : on 28 Nov 2006.
The Lost Weekend has generally received very positive reviews.
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