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prepalaw
Reviews
The Key (1958)
What transpires here is under-appreciated by those who have never experienced war
I just watched this film twice within the past two weeks and find the drama very compelling. Having participated in war, I understand full well how banal and boring life during wartime becomes. You are controlled by events and decisions beyond your control. Both the soldier in war, and the person very close to him, are deeply affected. What is portray here is very gripping and real. Ms. Loren's role is like that of the "furniture girl" in Soylent Green. Both women are not sluts - they have feelings too! They are doing what they have to do to survive in desperate times. When the movie ends, your brief and intimate contact with war itself is over. And then, you return to your normal life. If the movie is not sufficiently dramatic for you, then I suggest an enlistment in the Marine Corps or similar combat unit.
Sirocco (1951)
Tutorial for no-win situations
Having personally known the protagonist in another setting, this movie has a strong grip of realism. No, I did not know Bogie, but worked closely for many years with the type of person he portrays in Sirocco. 60+ years after its making, Sirocco shows us how the world turns. Its emptiness; its senselessness; its ugliness; its cruelty - these are the things we do not want confront. We want to pretend that the characters in the movie could never exist. Yet, they and the undercurrents of war and chaos are the grist of modern day life. That is why you feel uncomfortable when the movie ends. The actions and reactions of the characters are too real. Comparisons with other movies, actors and scripts are attempts to dilute the caustic quality of Sirocco, where everyone loses. This is an excellent tutorial to learn about human behavior in no-win situations.