Sweet Smell of Success

Just heard of this movie for the first time today and damn. I now know why people put up there with the greatest noir films ever made.

Some of the best acting I’ve ever seen.

Burt Lancaster is just simply astoundingly captivating as a man whose self importance and the ability to force that self important on other people.

I will say, I thought the framing was a little odd at first (you don’t think about gossip columnist when you think of noir films) but I was shocked afterwards to find Lancaster’s role was based on a real person.

I don’t know if j owing that would have helped or not. Part of the impressiveness of Lancaster’s role is he brings a level of testosterone to the role. He looks dangerous on top of his words.

The real life guy…. In no way reminds me of Lancaster.

Curtis is also fantastic I don’t know why but the scene that really stands out is when he starts clapping at the end of Lancaster’s monologue.

Susan Harrison is also very good and I think this is one of her only roles ever.

Now, I will say, yes, this does have dark subject matter. Even kinda shocking. There’s a scene where a character gets forced to sleep with another character for favors for example and they definitely play into how absolutely shitty that was.

But I heard it’s one of the most cynical movies of its type and I don’t think so.