Last night I watched The Lost Weekend, 1945's Best Picture Oscar winner and one of five Billy Wilder directed films on my list. Seeing as how this was a Wilder film, who also directed Some Like It Hot and The Apartment, I was expecting a lighthearted comedy. I was dead wrong. This film is the most realistic dipictions of addiction I've ever seen, rivaling modern films like Requiem For a Dream and Trainspotting. It stars Ray Milland in his Oscar winning performance as Don Birnam, a washed up writer with a serious drinking problem. Milland comes off as James Stewart without the likeability. His performance is fearless, shunning the perfect matinee looks of his contemporaries and appearing unshaven and sweaty through most of the film. Milland gives a wonderful monlouge about love that turns chilling when you realize the love he is declaring is for his bottle. He plays drunk very spot-on, but it's when he is going through withdrawals that he really shines. You can practically read his thoughts just by the expression on his face. I like that the film didn't depict him as a monster. He doesn't hit anyone or abuse anyone emotionally. Other than some petty theft, the only person Don harms in the film is himself. This choice is what makes this film great and keeps it from being a clichéd alcohol film. The supporting cast is great also. There isn't a weak performance in the film, especially from Jane Wyman as his girlfriend Helen, Howard Da Silva as a bartender racked with guilt at being an enabler, and Doris Dowling as a bar regular with eyes for Don. This film excites me for the remaining three Wilder films on my list. If you are looking for a good double feature, I would suggest watching this movie, along with Crazy Heart.
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