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Casablanca 10 out of 10
Running time: 1:42 MPAA rating: PG (Mature themes and mild violence.) Peruvian rating: Apta para Todos
Cast:
Humphrey Bogard, Ingrid Bergman, Paul
Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre,
Dooley Wilson. |
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I think it's fair to say that Casablanca is one of the most creatively successful and gripping movies of all time. One doesn't have to know much background to enjoy the film - only a little history, I guess - and it's almost impossible not to be enthralled by its masterful performances, the interesting story, its arresting characters and, overall, its power. The screenplay is as witty and intelligent as anything that could ever be done, the movie's atmosphere is palpable and arresting, and the themes it deals with are as relevant today as they were fifty or sixty years ago. Casablanca might not be on the same level as another movie starring the unforgettable Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon, but it's mighty close, and it's nevertheless a really powerful, gripping, superbly-acted, masterfully-directed and intelligently-written motion picture.
The movie - for you three who don't know what Casablanca is about - tells the story of Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband, Czech freedom fighter Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), who wander into Rick's Cafe in Casablanca. The two of them are escaping from the Nazis, and have come to the American-owned nightspot to pass unnoticed. But the German-controlled local government, led by Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) is moving, and Laszlo has to do something quickly to get the letters of transit he came for, so he and Ilsa can then escape. There's one problem, though: Ilsa doesn't know - yet - that the Cafe is run and owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), the only true love of her life and when the two of them see each other again, memories of an enchanted time in Paris come flooding back, and Ilsa may be falling in love for the man once again.
The first time I saw Casablanca was about a month or so ago, and for some reason it didn't really leave an impression on me. It may have to do with the fact that we were seeing it at school, and when watching a movie of this kind with all your friends making noise and with time constraints, it's just to as easy to enjoy it as when one sees it as home or in theatres. I didn't leave an impression, but I knew I had to watch it again at home, so I bought the DVD. And it was something else. This time, the moment the movie ended, I knew I had seen a masterpiece. The characters were enthralling, the story maintained me on the edge of my seat, and I was amazed by how, unlike other movies from its time, Casablanca didn't seem as "old" or as "aged." The dialogues were as witty and intelligent as anything written by a modern-day screenwriter, and the movie itself didn't feel "old"... it just felt different, in a good way. Hollywood doesn't make these melancholic films with bitter-sweet endings anymore, and I just felt connected to the characters and the movie's romance the whole time.
One of the reasons the movie is so successful lies in the acting department. No one, and I mean no one can mention this film without talking about Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, who are perfectly cast as Ilsa and Rick. They light the screen on fire the moment the both appear together onscreen, and they create an immensely palpable romantic tension and chemistry which makes their romance amazingly believable and emotionally exciting for the audience. Bogart is superb as Rick, and Bergman shines on the screen, making it almost impossible for any man not to relate with Rick. Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo is not as effective or impressive as the two main leads, but nevertheless gives a credible and effective performance. Conrad Veidt playing the Nazi commander going after Laszlo is pretty good, Sydney Greenstreet (whose first appearance was in the amazing The Maltese Falcon) is also effective, and Claude Rains as Captain Renault is amazing, stealing every scene he appears in, and making his character as believable and three-dimensional as Ilsa or Rick. Actually, there's no one character who doesn't develop during the course of the film, and this is what makes Casablanca really interesting and arresting, making it easy for the viewer to relate with the leads.
Technically, the movie is superb. The photography by Arthur Edeson is immensely palpable, making the film have a deep and gloomy atmosphere which is enhanced by the fact that it's shot on black and white. (It's impossible to imagine a Casablanca in color.) Michael Curtiz's direction is also amazing: had the movie been directed by a less talented or more amateurish filmmaker, it would have probably been pretty good, but not as memorable as it is. Curtiz seemed to extract excellent performances from every thespian present in the movie, and his direction style is effective. The movie's pacing is almost-perfect, and since one can identify so easily with the romance and the story and the characters, it never drags or becomes boring. Additionally, the bitter-sweet ending in which not everyone ends up happy is effective and makes the film feel different from the average Hollywood production. Nowadays, it's really hard to find a movie which doesn't have a happy ending, and the fact that the Casablanca filmmakers decided to stay away from Hollywood tactics of making the audience like a film makes it unique and special.
Ultimately, there's no romantic film that can top Casablanca. This is a movie which can touch an audience both emotionally and intellectually, and that can make a viewer relate to its characters, story and romance. With its amazing performance, excellent direction, intelligent and witty script, arresting story, well-developed and effective romance and three-dimensional and perfectly-portrayed characters, Casablanca is a real classic, a movie which makes the viewer be on the edge of their seats until the very end. I'm pretty sure there have been and there will be many attempts to remake this film, but without either Bogart or Bergman, it would be very difficult to top or even equal this movie's effectiveness and excellence. In short, Casablanca is a really, really amazing motion picture.
©2007 Sebastián Zavala - GG site