Review of The Third Man (1949) by Arth J — 30 Dec 2018

Just watched this for the first time. Didn't seem easy to get into at the start, a lot of dialogue in general, and a lot of German dialogue in particular, means I'd likely have to pay closer attention to it, and to expect the dissonance of not understanding what is being said, despite it seeming to be pivotal to the story!

But I persevered, gave up on following every sentence. Stop trying to understand, just feel. And this film just continues to deliver in every moment.

The cinematography is just breathtaking. Take a one still out of any part of this movie, and it would rank from excellent to world beating (to this day). The use of light and texture and depth is constantly surprising and delighting. Some parts just hit you with one perfect scene after another. As an amateur photographer, it just amazes me the attention to detail in every shot, throughout the whole film.

Of course, nothing in life is perfect. The Dutch Angles sometimes feel a bit heavy handed to me and of course the lighting and feel are by now writ large in second rate copies and parody. But neither of these things take away from the flow and enjoyment.

I loved the music. I like juxtaposition, and to me the music sets up it's own character in the film, giving it a light hearted feel even though the subject is quite dark. Someone could do a heavy modern classical score or an expansive synthesised ambient score and totally change the feel. Would actually be fun to experience! But the jaunty guitar tune works to tie the film together and adds a naive spice to things.

The dialogue is sharp as a tack. There are a few moments I just chuckled at the to-and-fro, some lovely moments just appear out of nowhere. And of course the acting rarely misses a beat. I felt an occasional brief stumble, but overall it is just impeccable, and the flow between scenes is fast and very slick.

I will need to revisit this film many times again. Could be my new most favourite film.