Could it all be true?

Rating: 6/10 (30 June 2019)

"Rosemary's Baby" is an American movie from 1968 written and directed by Roman Polanski, who was in his 30s at that point, but already a prolific and successful filmmaker. I have not read the novel this film is based on, so I cannot say a whole lot about similarities and differences. However, this one is a really long movie at slightly over 2 hours and 15 minutes. It is the story of a young couple who move into a new apartment and what happens when they get in contact and touch with the new neighborhood Eventually, the woman turns pregnant (she planned to) and what sounds like the perfect every day life fairytale turns out the exact opposite though as a secret satanic cult plans to take care of the baby since minute 1 and yes that includes contraception. One of the members is played by Ruth Gordon and she won an Oscar for her portrayal here. Well I like her and I am glad she got the recognition because she was a really talented actress who usually went for likable old ladies (well, that's also what she pretends to be on here). However, I don't think her turn here was really this outstanding honestly, even if she did all she could with the character and there are some good moments and she is a bit of a scene stealer in a pretty grateful role. The other Oscar nomination went to Polanski for his script and I think it is not undeserving by any means. He also would have deserved one for his direction as there were many really awesome camera angles that definitely added nicely to the film's atmosphere and overall outcome. It was a really gritty film that had me on the edge of my seat on several occasions. This was the second time I watched the movie, this time with subtitles. I think the surprise element was obviously even bigger for the first time back then and I still kept thinking maybe it is not the way she says it is. Maybe she is really sick in her head and making it all up. But this time now, it really could not have been any more obvious that she is not crazy, but fell victim to a very sinister gang of people in a situation in which she could not even rely on the one she loves the most let alone the doctor she trusts. Anyway, rewatching this is also rewarding. You do know how it turns out eventually, but still you will find something new all the time. Not always though, sometimes the hints are very subtle. The film has no intention to shove them into your face constantly. There are lengthy sequences with no indicators at all. The best recurring example is how all characters, especially the husband, always stay calm and gentle and tell her if she does not want to, she does not have to, although they clearly would be innerly frustrated if she doesn't, whatever this is referring to, most of all probably eating and drinking all kinds of poisoned stuff.
The lead actress here is Mia Farrow and while I think Gordon is not Oscar-worthy, Farrow (who was at that point still married to Frank Sinatra) most likely is. It is disappointing she did not get the nomination, especially after her Golden Globe nomination, and also given the fact that she was never nominated for an Oscar afterwards. This still in her early 20s is perhaps her career-defining role from a movie that, if you take a look at the quantity of votes, can easily be called one of the most famous 60s movies. As for Farrow, she starts like a fearless hopeful young woman resembling an angel almost with her long blonde hair. But the longer the film goes, the more she moves away from that, her pale face, her constant suffering and of course halfway into the film her lost hair. Wait, that approach won Hathaway at least partially an Oscar, guess it wasn't too big of a thing back then yet. Or was she wearing a wig early on? I don't know. But it's not too important either. Fact is, she gives an outstanding performance with a really really challenging role and would have deserved better awards-wise and proves she is not less talented than her prolific parents, probably even more and she got the best from both of them in her genes, in terms of talent and looks (and I am saying this as somebody who generally does not like blondes thaaaat much, so it means something). Her husband is played by John Cassavetes and I quite like him, so he was a nice distraction too. Also physically as female straight audiences will agree. He plays basically the in-between between Farrow's character and the cult. He is not a satanist or at least not right away and not as dedicated when it comes to the subject, but he (initially) mostly thinks about his career and that he no longer wants to be an unsuccessful actor and these people can make it happen if he helps them with their plans. He also had great chemistry with Farrow I thought, so nice inclusion and casting decision. May he rest in peace, also a pretty underrated actor who is sadly not known by too many (non-film buffs) anymore. Now as for Polanski, there is lots of darkness to his life and you will always find a dark side to his films as well. This one here sure is not an exception. Even the seemingly innocent nudity feels heavy in a way that there is something going on beyond love and Polanski really got that nicely on the screen. And then obviously the impregnation dream sequence scene that was oh so real (because she did not eat the entire mousse). He elaborated nicely there that sometimes you don't really know what is dream and what is reality, in the most polluted way in fact. Then the main character's decreasing health, the scene when she seeks hope with the few people she trusts like the other doctor and obviously her husband, who betrays her. Her elderly friend who gets killed by the cult when he takes stance somewhat against them, but still manages to give her an important message on the way or the young woman she befriends early on whose fate stayed rather mysterious. But she sure was not missed by the old couple. It should also be said that Sidney Blackmer plays his part well, nothing to hide next to Gordon and the scenes when we see him without her, he is just as good.
Finally I also want to say that I really liked the music here. The soundtrack is top-notch, shame Polanski's collaborator in that field died so early, very deserving Golden Globe nod that once again did not transition into an Oscar nomination unfortunately. But music-wise the highlight is probably the lullaby we hear at the very beginning and end and at the end we can also understand why it was included there. It is of course a reference to the deformed devil-like creature that Rosemary calls her son now. Also despite who he is and what happened, she somewhat accepts him and has maternal feelings. There with the other lady pulling out her tongue at Rosemary, Polanski also could not resist getting in a wheeze of humor (maybe directly from the book I don't know), but other than this is typical acomedic Polanski stuff. This is just not his genre. Or at least at best his third or 4th genre choice in a movie and here comedy is entirely non-existent unless you smile perhaps at some of the moments that are pretty telling in what direction this film is heading, but you wouldn't during first watch, so it just has nothing to do with comedy. Okay what else can be added? Don't expect to see any really famous faces here especially in the supporting cast. But don't worry, all the actors are pretty experienced and doing a really fine job, which comes with the experience they got of course as many cast members here are pretty old already. Overall, this was a pretty good watch and I am happy I got to see this on the big screen again for a second time. It was still slightly better when I saw it first I think and considered giving it 4 stars out of 5 really, but it does not turn into a film by any means that should not be seen more than once. On the contrary, I think even for the 5th watch, you will still discover many new things in this film. So I absolutely think you should watch it. I am not always too great on horror, but the way it is executed here, it was a nice experience. No cheap scare thrills needed, it is all hidden beneath and that's what makes it so good, even if admittedly here and there I felt there was a moment when the film just tried to be way too special like perhaps with the book and play on words involving one character's name. If I remember correctly, then this also bothered me a bit when I saw it first. Still kinda funny though how they have an explanation for everything. But why oh why would the old guy not just give himself a completely different name. Oh well, I guess he was sure his true identity would never be discovered. So finally, people who say blah blah the film based on a good book always sucks anyway, should watch these over 2 hours and they may hopefully change their opinion if they are just a bit open-minded. Thumbs up from me. No doubt about it.