The Gangster

O gângster estreava há 75 anos nos EUA. Eu costumo dizer que quando estou mais ou menos, também vou achar o filme que estou vendo mais ou menos, porque quando estou inspirada dá pra extrair grandes coisas de qualquer filme (não, não acredito que existe objetividade e imparcialidade em quaisquer análises). Por isso vou deixar esse pra uma revisão. Box Versátil Filme Noir Volume 18,

Tries to put a melodramatic touch to the life of a gangster, but goes a little overboard with the emotions. Would have felt better had the sappy nature been more focused. Doesn't mean the character development wasn't a intriguing part of The Gangster (1947), for there are layers here. It just wasn't working optimally for my tastes.

Covers the naked essentials of a gangster mentality. It is so sharply demonstrated and defended by the protagonist that the actors seem a little robotic. On the plus side the girlfriend angle contrasts nicely and you get a little insight into what could have been.

Draws you in from the very start with an archetypal noir voiceover that lays out the film's caustic world-view and sets the tone nicely for what lays ahead. Sullivan is not a particularly charismatic actor, but he does well here as the cynical protagonist gradually driven mad by his own insecurities. The cinematography is great too; highlighted by one amazing Nighthawks-esque diner scene that vividly captures the loneliness of the world inhabited by each character.

A brutal and cynical film. Sullivan is cold and paranoid, Belita is very good as his long-suffering gal, her devotion eventually beaten down by his suspicions. The score is occasionally overwhelming but mostly superb. And the cinematography makes the most of the often cheap-looking sets, a lot of beautiful stylization, especially in the rain-soaked opening and closing sequences. Perhaps a little too self-concious and stagey at times, but a very well-done, gloomy and sometimes poetic film.