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...