Casablanca (1942)
The pinnacle of classic cinema.
Presentation:
This is one of the best classics of all times as it is still shockingly good for today’s standards. The lighting is beautifully soft yet dramatic in film noir style utilizing a novel spotlight technique. Cinematography is timeless with exceptional blocking and staging. Music is memorable and well written and most notably the dialogue is sharp and witty. What make this film exceptional is the context. It was made in 1942 during World War II about the German occupation in France. You can feel the optimism and fighting spirit that the West will defeat the Nazi through the script, which inspires beyond the screen even in 2024. It really captures the essence of a classic film and makes it my most recommended film. Personalities have contrast and are lively and charming in their own way. We’ll likely never have smart and classy dialogue like this again.
Conclusion:
A very pretty film with famous quotes that you’ll see pop up in modern movies. It’s certainly better than Citizen Kane due to the restraint and focus. It’s not a perfect film as characters aren’t exactly fully developed and realized. If you grade it as a romance it falls a bit flat as some character’s choices are head scratching. The quick pace, which although is very exciting, makes some of the dramatic sections feel like water under the bridge. But it doesn’t stop this film from reaching greatness, if this film was made today it might even still pass for younger generations. As someone that doesn’t really like romance, I believe audiences will similar tastes will share the opinion that this story will always be great. They don’t make films like they used to.
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Recommendations
A masterclass in cinematography.