'Casablanca' film review

Casablanca 

Director: Michael Curtiz

Released: November 1942

Blue stars: 3/5  

Casablanca is supposedly one of the best films ever made. I mean it's good but I wouldn't call it 'best film ever made' good. Considering the film came out in 1942 it is very well made (now I know some of you will say it's not in colour, but there more to a film them colour, come on guys) and I found it gripping. I watched it in two parts, and I actually found myself thinking where will it go and how will it end. Casablanca is a neutral place In Africa owned by France that has a 'partnership' with the Nazis (it was more to try to keep everyone happy, they had to pair with the Nazis to stop them from probably invading Casablanca) the story focuses on this guy named Rick (Humphrey Bogart) who owns a cafe/bar/casino/a lot of other stuff. Rick is a cold hearted business owner and doesn't stick his neck out for nobody (ha quote from the film) but everything changes when Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks into the bar, a girl Rick hasn't seen for years (basically she and Rick had a fling and then she left him when she found out her husband (Paul Henreid) wasn't dead...intense) and the whole story goes from hard war drama, to a romantic drama.

No romance is complete with out a love triangle, so let's introduce our love triangle. Rick, Ilsa, Victor (my fav to win). Rick loves Ilsa, Ilsa loved Rick, Ilsa is married to Victor, Victor loves Ilsa. now I know you're probably like, but the love interest didn't even end up with the main characters. and yeah I know...sucks...or does it! from the start of the film I didn't want Ilsa to end up with Rick, I mean, ok, she had a nice fling with him and under the circumstances of her thinking her husband is dead I can let this adulterous act slide (I'm watching you Ilsa) but her Husband is ten times more interesting then Rick, ten times cooler the Rick, ten times a better person them Rick (Rick is a good person In the end, but Victor is a good person throughout) and ten times better for Ilsa them Rick. I mean it wasn't that hard to see. For the whole film I was boiling up ready to blow waiting for Ilsa to leave Victor (or what I thought was the inevitable, Victor dying. Easy way out of a marriage and into Ricks arms...NO) but I was pleasantly surprised when Rick made Ilsa go with Victor because he knew he was better for her. This definitely redeemed Rick for me and actually made me like him. Throughout the film I just didn't like Rick to be clear, he wasn't that nice of a person at the start, but I give him his due, he did start climbing that mountains of kindness and at the end he planted that flag at the top (YASSS RICK). I think if I didn't watch the end I wouldn't of liked the film, but that ending totally did it for me and in my personal opinion was a extremely satisfying ending, it rounded it up and actually made me like the film as a whole. I know it's sad that he doesn't get the girl, but I think it just wouldn't of worked, and I mean she was married to a man who was way better for her, Victor and Ilsa were a better match in my opinion. If you want a sad 'they don't get together' ending watch the body guard that's devastating (I know some will say that I'm contradicting myself and they weren't right for each other, yeah I know but COME ON, she wasn't married to a way better guy and the guy from the body guard was awesome!)

I'm sorry about that incredibly long paragraph/ rant / vital information but it just had to be said. So in summary I think Casablanca is a good film, but not quite the best film ever made. However, for its era it might just have been, I think in today's time it needs different conventions, and it's strong 40's style just puts it out of date in today's films. Once again me saying that does not mean it's a 'old' (old in like, well it's gonna be poorly made and painful acting) film but more of a classic gem that should definitely be watched at least once by all, even just for the fact to say that you've seen it.

My blue rating for Casablanca would be 3/5 (good, but not the best ever made)