The Perfect Movie: Casablanca

For some people it's action, for others comedy.  Still other people love action, or being frightened out of their minds.  For me though the perfect movie has to be Casablanca; the classic romance between Ilsa, and Rick set against a backdrop of World War II.

I watched it again last night; I hadn't seen it in a while.  It's been almost 70 years since that movie was made; you'd think the lines would be corny, that the story would be stale.  You'd be wrong.  I found myself laughing at the Renaud's quips, mouthing Rick's many one liners: "Here's looking at you kid," "Play it Sam," "Louis this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."   I sang along with "As Time Goes By," found myself stirred by the Marseilluese.

I don't know why I love it so much.  The romance doesn't turn out the way the audience wants it to- Rick ends up tricking Ilse into going with Victor Laszlow.  But even there he did it for love; that he loved this woman enough to send her to safety even if it meant he'd never see her again.  Rick alone is enough to make me love this movie; I can't imagine anyone but Humphrey Bogart in the role.  The best part about the character is he can be anything the audience wants him to be the character is so mysterious. 

The way it ends you could pretend he and Renaud went off together, or you could pretend Rick managed to get back to America.  You could even imagine that he eventually found Ilsa.  And where those unanswered questions usually bother me in a movie, I'm okay with it here.

World War II, was an exciting time full of romance, and desperation. Casablanca manages to capture something of the spirit of those times.  So while it isn't maybe the most thrilling, or the funniest it is in my opinion the perfect movie.

As Time Goes  By

Les Mis at the movies? No thanks, I'll see it on DVD

I must be one of the only people in the world right now who finds themselves firmly on the fence as to whether or not I should see it.  I love the story; compassion, forgiveness, love, and fighting for what's right.  A little of something for everyone.

I've read the book twice (once in French).  And I've seen the Liam Neeson version of the movie, as well as own both the 10th, and 25th anniversary concert DVDs.  This version of the movie has a fantastic cast- Hugh Jackman as Jean ValJean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, and Sacha Baren-Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Ternardiers.  I should be slapping down my cash right now... but I'm not.

I love the cast, and I love the story.  But I just can't bring myself to plonk down the money to see it. There are some shows for me that demand a grand stage production; some numbers like Bring Him Home that demand the intimacy of just one person on stage singing to a group of people.  I know that's what the extreme closeups of the movie are supposed to recreate- from the quick clip shown at the SAG (Screen Actor's Guild Awards) Awards, it just looked so cheesy.  For me, this is a story that deserves better than that.

For their 25th anniversary, they put the show on in a concert format, at the 02 arena in London.  Playing the role of Jean ValJean was a tenor named Alfie Boe.  Watching him sing "Bring Him Home" which, is "the" song in the whole show was like  watching him cast a spell over an audience.  It was like he disappeared to another world and took the audience with him. 

 

 

He's great isn't he?

 

It's a matter of timing really.  Hugh Jackman's a great actor, and a good singer.   But unfortunately for him Alfie Boe, Colm Wilkinson, and Michael Burgess, and all the other fantastic casts over the years came before them.  I'll take a pass on this one; maybe see it on  DVD.