Some Like it Hot

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Some Like it Hot!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th June 2025

Once again, we're going after a big fish: This movie has an impressive reputation as one of the greatest comedies ever made. And, from an outsider such as myself, this movie also appears to rank very highly amongst both women and the LBGT community - I suppose that's what happens when you make a movie based around two guys who are forced to dress in drag.

But who am I kidding? This was hilarious. Time hasn't aged it at all and the jokes still hit the mark. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon make for a superb duo and Marilyn Monroe is in her prime. 
It's a great example of a farce done right and some razor sharp satire. And a lot of movies that have followed since can only wish they were this good. 

The Lost Weekend

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Lost Weekend!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd February 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 18 (1945)

There's been this joke circulating that winning the Best Picture Oscar is guaranteed if one makes a movie about someone trying to overcome some sort of personal struggle. To that end, the blame for such a trend can be laid on the shoulders of this movie that depicts a guy fighting a losing battle with alcoholism and alienating those around him. 

The difference is however that this movie still packs a punch decades later and still sets a standard that many of it's imitators can't hope to reach. It certainly isn't easy to watch, being a harrowing experience with sprinkles of dark humour, but it certainly is a compelling one. 
It's also a rare instance that, when they feel like it, the Academy can take a risk and reward a challenging movie. Wish they did it more often...

The Apartment

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Apartment!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th January 2023

Once again, I approach a movie that has the reputation of being one of the undisputed classics of cinema and being capable of standing steadfast against the ravages of time. And once again, the problem that a such a reputation may not live up to it persists. Still, I am willing to give it a go.

Given that this movie is from 1960, I am surprised that the premise is quite risque: A guy rents out his apartment to swinging couples? And said couples originate from his workplace which gives him leverage to climb the corporate ladder? That sound tremendously out of place for it's time. But what is truly surprising is that the movie itself seems to apply restraint: Anyone else would think such a scenario would be grounds for a farce but not here. It is however, is a thoughtful film, treating it's subjects in an empathetic light. Sure there are laughs but it's the characters put before us that is the real meat of this movie.
Not much to add except that it seems that this movie does indeed still work 63 years later. Which is more than can be said for a fair number of movies that have won the Oscar for Best Picture.