The film that has everything

Rating: 10/10 (31 August 2005)

Casablanca contains everything a film should have: suspense, romance, humour (even comedy), observation, charged emotion, good music and most of all superb pacing, there isn't a wasted second. As each scene elides into the next bringing twists and turns you are caught up in the swirl of an ambiguous world where money may talk but personalities talk louder. Whose side is Rick on? Was he the first anti-hero or just Humphrey Bogart's stock in trade character?
The ambiguity of Rick is reflected in many of the other roles notably the young bar-girl revealed as deeply patriotic when the chips are down - for me the most charged scene in the film.
No matter how many times I watch this movie it's still as fresh as the first time and the possibility of the ending being different always present.