You’re Cute
Saw The Big Sleep for the second time last night. I’ve always loved film noir, but somehow never really got into the Bogie/Bacall genre.
The fact that everyone agrees that the movie is a great one despite the fact that the plot is pretty much incomprehensible is quite vindicating for me. Hell, I’ve even read the book and could only keep up with the movie for about the first 45 minutes. I’m always the person who can’t quite follow the plot when
watching a mob movie, and usually would rather not have it explained to me - as long as there are interesting faces and witty dialogue, I don’t need to know all the subtleties of why the guy in the hat killed the guy with the umbrella. If The Big Sleep can be a classic when even the critics are as mystified as I am, it means it’s legitimate to enjoy a movie this way.
Of course, Bacall was very alluring, with her tough, intelligent demeanor and wide, full mouth, sitting on a desk and fondling her hem. But I was just as intrigued by the two random women who come on to Bogie without provocation early in the movie, especially the girl at the rare book shop (the authentic one). Despite a small part including a cliched you’re-much-better-looking-without-your-glasses-and-your-hairpins sequence, she manages to match Bacall in brains and seductive assertiveness. I’m also into the taxi driver.
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