Rating of
3.5/4
A gritty classic.
memento_mori - wrote on 08/26/13
Marlon Brando didn't win an Oscar for this... hmm. So much for most iconic role of all time.
What's so fascinating about some of the characters, is how realistic they actually are. Blanche is a belle past her prime, clinging on to semi-expensive clothes and her reputation to mask her alcoholism and make her feel better about herself.
Yes, I'll admit that she got on my nerves sometimes, but she was supposed to. Her character is a brilliant psychological mess and Vivien Leigh is fantastic in her role… Even if I wanted her to leave by the end of the film.
Stanley and Stella are an ordinary couple, who fight about things that reflect any normal couple. Expenses, house guests, appearances, forgiveness. Great writing slips into great characters.
And so the dominating role of all three is Marlon Brando's. My God. What an actor. Anger, despair, compulsion, restraint, what emotions doesn't this character explore? Every scene with Brando is gold, because he knows how blend character with acting and leave a lasting impression.
The music in the film is almost predominant. The alternating styles of jazz and melodies simply dramatize and emphasize every element. Especially during the notable 'Hey Stella!' scene. That was just perfect.
This movie with a score is like Jaws without a score. It's not the same.
I'll be honest though. The movie isn't spotless. It has many times where I felt like strangling Blanche. And the last half hour of the film is really sloppy. I mean completely sloppy, one of the worst endings I've seen.
The film is a depressing, foul ambient mess, and that's just the kind of atmosphere I like.
Surrounded by incredible acting and writing, this film achieves in my mind another level of cinema. I never have seen a true 'classic' movie of this depth, of this nature. It's darker than any other 'Golden Age' film, and that's just what makes it so special.
