Here's lookin' at you, film.

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 2005)

Overall, "Casablanca" went a little overboard on being pro-American, but certain traits make it worthwhile. The plot of course has American expatriate Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) owning a Cafe Americain in WWII-era Casablanca and meeting ex-lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman).
Much of the film's strength lies in its dialogue. Rick says "I don't stick my neck out for nobody." Alone, this helps the audience understand what kind of a person he is, but the movie also shows his other side. When Ilsa comes to the café, Sam (Dooley Wilson) tells her "A lot of water been under the bridge." This alone is enough to describe not only Rick and Ilsa's life, but also the events that had come to dominate the world during the past few years.
As for the other characters, Paul Henreid plays Ilsa's husband Victor Laszlo. Even though he has been fighting the Nazis, one wonders how much value he has in life. Capt. Renault (Claude Rains) is amoral but we grow to respect him. Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet also provide great characters. All in all, "Casablanca" remains the embodiment of the phrase: "They don't make 'em like they used to."