Same Day -- New Film = 'The Apartment'

Billy Wilder's 1960 classic features Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine in perhaps one of the best movies I have and will ever see.

In terms of comedy -- a lot of films are thrown about these days. The more educated population will maybe toss in names such as 'This Is Spinal Tap', 'National Lampoon's Animal House' -- the others will divulge trifle (in comparison to these great names) such as 'Anchorman' and anything from the library of Adam Sandler.

I sit in between. There are 3 types of comedy films in my opinion. There are the films that attempt to go for outrageous humour with obvious visual gags and one liners and ridiculous situations and parodies -- usually directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer or The Wayans brothers. Then come the animated features which in some cases tend to do the same, but as they are cartoons, they succeed, and have more focus, balance and appeal. Then there are the films like 'The Apartment', a film which finds the balance from minute one, and contains it consistently throughout inviting dramatic conflict to pair up with comic genius and have the two crackle and sizzle in one hell of a movie.

The film tells the story of C.C. Baxter. A life-long bachelor who at first appears to be some sorta workaholic, but is revealed to be a man who is so determined to get to the top, that he allows those higher than him to rent out his own apartment when they wish to do the dirty on their wives. He makes the contacts, and happily seems to work his way up -- all the way to the top where he meets Jeff Sheldrake -- the man in charge. Jeff is also doing the dirty, with the lift woman, Fran (Maclaine) -- a cute but unattainable girl who is also admired rather unsubtly by Baxter. It follows this love triangle throughout the movie, the situations staying remarkably calm despite Fran even attempting suicide. This is what I mean by the balance -- it's beautiful. It's such a remarkable film that I wish everyone would see it. It's really that good.

It deals with human characters in a very usual situation -- with this in mind, it becomes a drama. Yet we have the genius that is Jack Lemmon playing C.C. and he is perhaps one of the funniest men ever to grace the screen with his presence. His actions, his delivery, expressions -- not since Buster Keaton in 'The General' have I seen such skill at making what I'm sure is a bleedin' hard job seem like no trouble at all. Effortlessly funny for the entire movie, it is a wonderful performance...and from the supporting cast too.

I read earlier that the movie was great inspiration for 'American Beauty' by Sam Mendes and that Kevin Spacey dedicated his performance to Lemmon. This alone indicates how great the movie really is. It ascends anything that Will Ferrell casts off as comedy these days, and the script is so perfect that it reminds me of slicing through warm butter. It's easy, it flows, and it feels really good (IT DOES).

This is a great movie, and I recommend it to everyone. I'd also recommend using a tennis racket as a strainer. Absolute genius, buddy boy...