The Lost Weekend

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Alan W Since I've always associated that Lloyd Cole and the Commotions song with this film, I was a little disappointed to find Ray Milland's Don nowhere near Amsterdam in a hospital suffering from double pneumonia. Instead Billy Wilder's film, which he co-adapted with Charles Brackett, from Charles R. Jackson's semi-autobiographical novel, is a dark, surprisingly frank and brutal account of a chronic alcoholic's total downfall over one weekend as his addiction takes over his life completely. Shaking off his heartthrob leading man status to play an unsympathetic lead, Milland's Don is a blocked writer paralyzed by anxiety and insecurity who finds escape through the whiskey bottle; while his 'girl', Jane Wyman's Helen, stood steadfastly by his side. As a social melodrama, let alone one made 80 years ago, it pulls no punches depicting Don's horrendous and alienating behaviour and the tragic spiraling he's caught in as he hits rock bottom. Yet, it wisely still finds the time, in a couple of flashbacks, to humanize Don and allows us to understand and sympathize with his affliction. Apart from Miklos Rozsa's insistent score which does date the film, though the way it leans into horror aptly bolster the frenzy nightmare Don is experiencing, Wilder's film has stood the test of time pretty well. A well-judged but judgement-less screenplay adds lighter notes here and there, especially in the minutiae of Don and Helen's relationship to soften what's essentially a very heavy subject matter, whilst reaffirming the love that will eventually save the day. In fact, together with Wilder's confident direction and subtle and meticulous camerawork that guides and engages its audience throughout, the film feels almost ahead of its time in its honesty and stylish efficiency, producing a worthy 4-time Oscar winner that managed to tackle a challenging subject matter with compassion and intelligence. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 80th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/25 Full Review William B Wondrous movie. Made me think about how we miss the opportunity to share our lives with those who love us due to our reckless decisions. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/25 Full Review Alexsander F O filme caiu como uma luva para mim, era tudo o que eu estava sentindo em um momento de desespero, um longa que ainda se faz muito presente nos dias de hoje. Billy Wilder é um diretor insofismável e brilhante. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/18/24 Full Review Alec C This weekend begins a path of self-destruction for one alcoholic as his demons threaten to consume him! A sober look at the affects of alcoholism, low self-esteem, paranoia and suicide all through the eyes of one man as he begins a bender that might end with him dead. Surprisingly relevant today as it was all those years ago, this depressing drama manages to bring us down to our low points at every turn! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/31/23 Full Review Kyle C The isolation and frustration of addiction takes center stage in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend. Its trials and morals are still as relevant as ever. Ray Milland earned his Academy Award playing a troubled writer wrestling with his demons, in an archetype performance that inspired countless other actors, like Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. This film is culturally significant and well worth the watch. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Lost Weekend

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