This movie was recommended to me by a friend and usually I procrastinate watching movies I haven't chosen myself, it's sort of a pride thing and a product of being told what to do for years. Anyway, a Billy Wilder recommendation seemed to me too good a movie to pass up. I was not wrong.
C. C. Baxter is special. Not special because of a talent of intelligence, but because he has the key. The key to his apartment. Everyone at Baxter's job is willing to help him get promoted in exchange for his key and the use of his apartment for their affairs and privacy. This of course gives Baxter the upper hand at work but destroys his personal life as his neighbors believe him to be a creep and he can never actually go home. Baxter's new boss and head of the company ends up wanting to use Baxter's apartment with the elevator girl Fran whom Baxter is interested in. Unfortunately, Fran is very into Sheldrake, Baxter's married boss, who leaves her alone in the apartment on Christmas to be with his family. Fran swallows all of Baxter's sleeping pills and when he returns he finds her half dead. Luckily a neighbor is a doctor and saves her, leaving Baxter to care for her. There is more of course but I refuse to ruin the ending.
C. C. Baxter is special. Not special because of a talent of intelligence, but because he has the key. The key to his apartment. Everyone at Baxter's job is willing to help him get promoted in exchange for his key and the use of his apartment for their affairs and privacy. This of course gives Baxter the upper hand at work but destroys his personal life as his neighbors believe him to be a creep and he can never actually go home. Baxter's new boss and head of the company ends up wanting to use Baxter's apartment with the elevator girl Fran whom Baxter is interested in. Unfortunately, Fran is very into Sheldrake, Baxter's married boss, who leaves her alone in the apartment on Christmas to be with his family. Fran swallows all of Baxter's sleeping pills and when he returns he finds her half dead. Luckily a neighbor is a doctor and saves her, leaving Baxter to care for her. There is more of course but I refuse to ruin the ending.
This movie is steadily becoming my second favorite of all time (nothing surpasses Woody Allen's Manhattan). This is surprising since I'm not usually one for romance, The Apartment is one of the few exceptions to this rule (yes, most movies have a hint of romance but this one is full one romance with a hint of comedy). The plot and acting were so strong that I was captivated for the entire 2 hours. As if I needed another reason to love John Lemmon after Some Like it Hot, Billy Wilder gives me more excuses to compare him to the always fantastic, never disappointing, James Stewart. Both actors put on brilliant performances that are both interesting and captivating. While I usually fall for a director's work a proceed to view multiple movies of theirs, very few times am I actually so motivated to follow an actor's works. Expect me to be writing more reviews about John Lemmon and, what I am sure, his brilliant work.
The movie begins with one of the most beautiful monologues ever (though I am a fool for facts and figures) as Baxter rants about the number of people who work in his office and the hours and himself working late. Taken out of context one might think this is a movie about a normal business worker and his hard work to get promoted, and honestly if he worked those hours without ulterior motives he'd get the promotion without sacrificing his apartment. This opening monologue is interesting though and a great lead in to the entire motivations behind Baxter's actions.
As always Wilder does a fantastic job of creating a movie I can't help but become attached to, even after just one viewing. His movies are ones that I am willing to sacrifice sleep, work, and society for. I become so emotionally entrapped in the world he has creating that our own does not seem as bright, despite being in black and white. The characters in this movie are just everyday people like you and I, and their interactions are common (It was also useful in telling me how to get ahead at work! If anyone is hiring and need to use my dorm I'm your girl).
The audience is given the upper hand of knowing Fran's relationship with Baxter's boss before Baxter himself is aware. The dramatic irony leading up to Baxter's discovery are painful to watch as her, for lack of better terms, makes an ass out of himself trying to impress her. I sat on the edge of my seat for a good half hour just waiting for the characters to catch up to my knowledge. A painful half hour that I am most certainly a better person for (I hope).
I don't think I've ever felt so happy for a character and as fulfilled as I was at the end of this movie. Certainly other endings have made me happy but I got everything I wanted out of this movie as the credits rolled. If it hadn't been 3am the night before my 9am class I would have most certainly played it again. This is also the movie that pushes Billy Wilder onto my top 5 directors list (sorry Kubrick, I still love you).
The movie begins with one of the most beautiful monologues ever (though I am a fool for facts and figures) as Baxter rants about the number of people who work in his office and the hours and himself working late. Taken out of context one might think this is a movie about a normal business worker and his hard work to get promoted, and honestly if he worked those hours without ulterior motives he'd get the promotion without sacrificing his apartment. This opening monologue is interesting though and a great lead in to the entire motivations behind Baxter's actions.
As always Wilder does a fantastic job of creating a movie I can't help but become attached to, even after just one viewing. His movies are ones that I am willing to sacrifice sleep, work, and society for. I become so emotionally entrapped in the world he has creating that our own does not seem as bright, despite being in black and white. The characters in this movie are just everyday people like you and I, and their interactions are common (It was also useful in telling me how to get ahead at work! If anyone is hiring and need to use my dorm I'm your girl).
The audience is given the upper hand of knowing Fran's relationship with Baxter's boss before Baxter himself is aware. The dramatic irony leading up to Baxter's discovery are painful to watch as her, for lack of better terms, makes an ass out of himself trying to impress her. I sat on the edge of my seat for a good half hour just waiting for the characters to catch up to my knowledge. A painful half hour that I am most certainly a better person for (I hope).
I don't think I've ever felt so happy for a character and as fulfilled as I was at the end of this movie. Certainly other endings have made me happy but I got everything I wanted out of this movie as the credits rolled. If it hadn't been 3am the night before my 9am class I would have most certainly played it again. This is also the movie that pushes Billy Wilder onto my top 5 directors list (sorry Kubrick, I still love you).
No comments:
Post a Comment