The Lost Weekend

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Bill B @RT01438538 Aug 20 Mostly depressing film of a man's descent into alcoholism. The despair portrayed by MIlland is palpable and earned him an Academy Award. Not an easy ride here. See more Carlos M @CaduMartins May 31 Even though it’s an older film, it features such a compelling and truthful story that it held my attention from beginning to end. The simple, yet realistic and emotional plot is what makes this movie so engaging, powerfully illustrating that our biggest enemy is usually ourselves. See more Rich C. @RichieNoir Jan 27 Decent flick on the worst of alcoholism. Not really noir. See more Christian K @ckacar Jan 23 I knew Billy Wilder wouldn't let me down. This is a more personal, dirtier look at a man that hadn't been the focus of the previous BP winners I've seen. See more Eli H @EliHendricks Oct 21 It's hearts in the right place, but its heavy-handed approach can come off like a D.A.R.E. PSA at times. For the most part it does a good job of showing an alcoholic's descent during a binder though, especially for the time. Can't recommend it though. See more Alan W @PatronWong Sep 10 Since I've always associated that Lloyd Cole and the Commotions song with this film, I was a little disappointed to find Ray Milland's Don nowhere near Amsterdam in a hospital suffering from double pneumonia. Instead Billy Wilder's film, which he co-adapted with Charles Brackett, from Charles R. Jackson's semi-autobiographical novel, is a dark, surprisingly frank and brutal account of a chronic alcoholic's total downfall over one weekend as his addiction takes over his life completely. Shaking off his heartthrob leading man status to play an unsympathetic lead, Milland's Don is a blocked writer paralyzed by anxiety and insecurity who finds escape through the whiskey bottle; while his 'girl', Jane Wyman's Helen, stood steadfastly by his side. As a social melodrama, let alone one made 80 years ago, it pulls no punches depicting Don's horrendous and alienating behaviour and the tragic spiraling he's caught in as he hits rock bottom. Yet, it wisely still finds the time, in a couple of flashbacks, to humanize Don and allows us to understand and sympathize with his affliction. Apart from Miklos Rozsa's insistent score which does date the film, though the way it leans into horror aptly bolster the frenzy nightmare Don is experiencing, Wilder's film has stood the test of time pretty well. A well-judged but judgement-less screenplay adds lighter notes here and there, especially in the minutiae of Don and Helen's relationship to soften what's essentially a very heavy subject matter, whilst reaffirming the love that will eventually save the day. In fact, together with Wilder's confident direction and subtle and meticulous camerawork that guides and engages its audience throughout, the film feels almost ahead of its time in its honesty and stylish efficiency, producing a worthy 4-time Oscar winner that managed to tackle a challenging subject matter with compassion and intelligence. See more Read all reviews

The Lost Weekend

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