Casablanca

Casablanca
"In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick's one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan...."

6 STARS (reserved only for this movie)

So, I figured I couldn't do this blog justice without making my favorite movie of all time the first review. There is almost nothing about this film I don't love. It's filled with some of the most memorable quotes in cinema history and, odds are, you know all of them but you just may not realize where they come from. SIX quotes from Casablanca are listed on AFI's List of Top 100 Movie Quotes of All Time. One of them ("Round up the usual suspects.") even inspired a movie of its own.

But its not just the quotes that make this movie. Once in a very long while a film just seamlessly comes together with direction, acting, writing, and music . . . this is one of those movies. The key elements are an intertwining love triangle and the plight of thousands of refugees trying to escape the persecution of Nazi europe. Bogart portrays surly bar owner Rick as only he can. At first we are led to believe that Rick is a self centered anti-hero who "sticks his neck out for no one". But as the story develops we discover the layers to his character and the broken heart that has led to his life of eternal bachelor-dom. This wound is reopened when his former lover Ilsa coincidentally walks into his "gin joint" . . . with her husband.

Paul Henried portrays Ilsa's husband, Victor Laszlo, who is the head of the underground movement in Europe aiming to topple the Nazi regime. Ilsa is forced to choose between the man she believes in and the man she truly loves. The chemistry between Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart is almost palpable and the flashback of their love affair in Paris is one you won't soon forget ending in the now famous line, "Kiss me, kiss me as if it were the last time." Do you have goosebumps yet?

I guess I love this movie so much because of how intriicate it is. Seeing it once will only scratch the surface, I find something new everytime I watch it. The casting is spot on and the acting will make you wish the movie wouldn't end. And speaking of the ending, it will definitely not be one that you are expecting, but it will be one that makes you understand why the film is so revered.

In this day and age of Mega-Budget action movies and dwindling attention spans, I completely realize that I am in the minority for my generation in loving a movie that is so "basic". But if you give this movie a chance and really pay attention to what it is saying, I believe you will have the same reaction as the people of Casablanca, because in the end "Everybody Comes to Ricks."