August 5, 2007

Sweet Smell of Success

1957 / Alexander Mackendrick > Sweet Smell of Success is as dark and biting now as it must have been in its heyday. Burt Lancaster's performance as a ruthless society columnist is second only to Tony Curtis' mercurial, almost repulsive role as the public relations agent in constant need of dire favors. It's always interesting to see a film from half a century ago and think that the world hasn't changed much. While we all imagine a nice, quiet place pre-Internet, films like this are kind enough to show that people are always the same, and that it's just their surroundings that change as time goes on.