The Apartment (1960)

I came into this movie completely blind and was shocked by just how much I enjoyed it. I'm not even quite sure how to put it into words but from the very start I was completely invested in the movie and couldn't take my eyes away from the screen. it is completely different from any film I've watched before and for me this meant aspects of the movie felt so new and therefore intriguing. This sense of new experience really captivated me personally even if it wouldn't usually be my cup of tea being a romantic comedy. I found this movie absolutely hilarious and so much stronger in comedic timing and actually comedy itself then movies from the modern era. The 60's vibe is big in this movie, and I feel like it's that very vibe that makes this movie that much more comedic. At times this movie almost feels like a play with its exaggerated caricatures and almost nonlinear structure where there are multiple moments of climax woven throughout rather than a buildup to one big climax as seen in many movies in the modern era. the movie is paced pretty well with no moments where at least I felt bored or uninterested and the storyline itself is quite interesting and helps you to be more invested in the characters throughout.

However, this movie definitely is very dated in many aspects as is common in many older films from the period. Due to the beliefs at the time women are objectified throughout, suicide is almost shrugged off and I talked about in quite a jokey manner with little care for victims and there are clear displays of systematic racism where the only black characters are caretakers or even a shoe shiner at one point for a white man. This causes the film to feel very problematic in the modern era which is why I feel for you to enjoy this movie you have to almost put yourself in the shoes of the average movie goer at the time and try to not think too deeply about the issues that this movie has in portrayal of practically everyone that isn't a white man. For this reason, I'd say this movie isn't for everyone but if you are likely to be able to get over the problems it has in this regard, I would highly recommend it as when viewed as objectively as possible within the context of the 60s it is very enjoyable.