Director: Billy Wilder
Notable Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray
Walston, Jack Kreschen, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens,
Johnny Seven
In an effort to be upfront
and honest with the readers of this site and to give some context to this
review, Billy Wilder films have never quite been my cup o’ tea. Massively
respectable, sure, and I would even go as far as to say that I agree he made some
of the defining films for multiple decades. Yet, many of the films I’ve seen of
his never quite resonated with me. That is, until The Apartment. A multiple Oscar winning film from 1960, The Apartment is a dramatic comedy that
pushed a lot of buttons for a film made in this time period. Its comedic
moments are often dark at times and the basic plot and narrative adds a lot of
layering to what could have been a fairly cut-n-dry dramedy. It’s a film that
is impeccably crafted in terms of how it unveils its romantic comedy narrative
and uses its stronger elements to deliver a thoughtful, layered, and humane
story. For cinephiles around the world, it’s a film that deserves to be seen
and this latest Arrow Academy release is the way to see it.