Billy Wilder's 'The Lost Weekend' is an excruciatingly perfect investigation into the life of a drunkard. Wilder directs the film in a compact form, not wasting shots nor allowing worthless dialogue. Every shot is meticulously pointed and meaningful, which brings out the best in the magnificent performances by Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. It must be difficult to present a drunkard in a sensitive fashion while avoiding either glorifying or condemning him. Yet Wilder succeeds in doing just that, and the end product is a beautiful film that delivers its message like a punch in the face.
Review of The Lost Weekend
