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January 2, 2009
Oscar Challenge: The Lost Weekend
or "All About Enablers"
So the subtext is supposed to be that our intrepid drunken hero is a drunk because he's, like, gay and stuff. In the first scene, his brother is looking for his secret hidden alcoholic stash in the closet (GET IT, IN THE CLOSET), but there's not a subtle moment after that.
Seriously, in his worst moment of delirium, a bat flies in the window and eats the mouse crawling out the wall. And then Mrs. Reagan comes in and distracts him (Drinking is bad! Here, take this cigarette!), and all is happy and, er, gay.
Fine acting, decent plot, but it was a silly morality story minus the moral with a ridiculous deus ex machina. Three stars out of five, largely because Edith Head's clothes are always worth watching.
p.s. We are out of rye.
Comments
I know you all haven't gotten anywhere near the 60s, but when you do, you might want to check out this book from the library, _Pictures at an Exhibition_, which is all about movies nominated for best picture in 1967. I found it really fascinating - all about Old Hollywood vs. New. The 5 pictures were:
The Graduate
Bonnie & Clyde
In the Heat of the Night
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and
Dr. Dolittle
I was thinking about your Best Picture Plan when I was reading it, and thought you might like it.
Posted by: Big Alice at January 14, 2009 11:10 AM