# 92 IMDb/ #80 AFI - The Apartment

My mom gave me the number to pick for this one so I asked if she wanted to watch it as well. I will have to say I found it to be interesting on a couple of levels. First impression was that it was a bit dark. The overall theme was scandal, adultery, betrayal and even suicide. Not very many films that I have seen around that era would tackle these items. It did surprise me a bit that a film made in 1960 could absolutely be done (and probably has) now and not much would have to change. There were some humorous bits and sometimes ironic humor, but after watching the romp of Some Like It Hot, it was very interesting to see Jack Lemmon in that role. He pulled it off in a loveable yet, "want to just shake him" manner. You do empathize the situation he's in and root for him to put up a stand.

I was happy the way everything "worked out" in the end though. Nice resolution. I was totally expecting it though, because that's the element from the 60s that followed so many films. The happy-go-lucky, everything resolves and works out how it should in the end. I think it would be interesting to have a different ending if someone were to remake it now, but that's me wanting to break away from the standard plot lines we see so much of.

Shirley MacLaine was absolutely adorable in this film. She had a spunky, no holds barred attitude at the beginning and then we see her fall from grace. She played the shift quite believable in my eyes and I think many can related to her situation right along with her.

This movie is again all about the dialogue and the interactions. The game of gin rummy with Fran and their conversation about her always falling for the wrong man, Jack's character using the tennis racket to strain the pasta, trying to get Fran to awake after taking the pills, it's wonderful to see how these events help shape the story and the characters as they come to their realizations.