Review of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) by Josh M — 18 Jul 2009
The story of two down-on-their-luck Americans who decide to go gold prospecting, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre presages films like A Simple Plan by decades, and yet somehow manages to outdo a lot of them.
A spectacularly nasty story of avarice, karma, temptation, and the inherently twisted sense of humor of the universe, Sierra Madre creates wholly fascinating characters and then begins to turn the screws, making the film's events all the more painful and fascinating for the way we empathize and connect with them.
It's easy to see, from watching this, why Bogart was a star; his Fred C. Dobbs is an iconic creation, one whose ideals don't hold up for an instant in the real world, serving somehow as both protagonist and villain at the same time.
Really, all three leads do spectacular jobs, with Walter Huston very nearly stealing the whole film as the older, more seasoned prospector. I really didn't know much about Treasure before watching it, other than its high reputation and the "badges" line; as I finished (and especially as I took in the brilliant ending), I not only understood the reputation, but hated myself for not seeing this sooner.
This review of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) was written by Josh M on 18 Jul 2009.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has generally received very positive reviews.
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