Review of Titanic (1943) by Olga T — 23 Dec 2018

The most expensive movie ever made when it was released, James Cameron's blockbuster epic became the highest grossing movie of all time and won a record-tying 11 Oscars including Best Picture. An apt comparison would be to refer to it as the "Gone with the Wind" of this generation.

There are many similarities, both good and bad, between these movies. Both were made about 80 years after the events occurred and are essentially soap operas set against the backdrop of historical tragedy.

Leonardo DiCaprio became a huge star as Jack Dawson, a poor American who wins passage on the Titanic in a card game; he falls in love with a upper class American, Rose Bukater (Kate Winslet), about to be married to a wealthy tycoon's son, Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), who she doesn't love.

Their romance takes place aboard the ship before it strikes an iceberg and sinks. Cameron is a gifted storyteller and he knows how to maintain momentum in pacing. He sets up the story in flashback where a 101 year old Rose (Gloria Stuart) recounts the events that happened and we see a computer reenactment of how the ship struck the iceberg then sank.

Cameron takes us around the ship to prepare us for what will happen so when it does sink the scene has a terrifying grandeur. The effects are terrific and the final hour is intense. As a writer, it must be said Cameron is amateurish.

The dialogue in "Titanic" is so banal it frequently becomes laughable. The characterizations are weak, particularly in the conception of Cal Hockley who comes to be seen as a hissable villain.

The movie has a naive view of the classes that is condescending to audiences. Basically, it boils down to the poor being noble and fun while the rich are seen as callous and dull. DiCaprio and Winslet have good chemistry but DiCaprio fares better.

"Titanic" doesn't hold up as well now but flaws and all it remains an entertaining spectacle that Hollywood rarely has the desire to make anymore. With Bill Paxton, Kathy Bates, Jonathan Hyde, Frances Fisher, Suzy Amis.

Won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Score, Original Song, Art Direction, Costume Design, Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing. Selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.