Casablanca
The camera pushes towards a rotating globe as a band plays and a narrator speaks. Together, the globe and camera move until Europe covers the screen. A fade-in happens, and the globe is now a map with the screen on Paris's emblem. Suddenly, the camera moves back, then shifts down as an animated trail _ the map, _ing now south from Europe to Morocco. This is the introduction to Casablanca, not a cheery welcome to a main character and setting, not a "fade in then fade in then fade in" of a mysterious place. No. Casablanca begins with its camera on the move, telling that _ during World War II from Europe to Africa. From the moving camera to the animated trail, Casablanca establishes itself as a movie about _.
The camera is always making slight movements. From little ones as a car drives, to bigger push-ins when Sam plays the piano. Casablanca's moving camera doesn't call attention to itself, or make the film acknowledge its existence as a film, but reflects the _ of the setting. From pickpockets to murderers, chaos ensues as everyone is waiting and waiting to escape Casablanca and ultimately arrive in the New World. In this place of _, how is a love story told? How can the beauty of people be seen in a place that only brings out everyone's disgusting selves? This is where Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) recall, as they remember their loving past, building their way amidst the hardships of Casablanca's _ city.
Rick is introduced with his hand writing a check, next to a drink, playing chess, and smoking a cigar.
Right off the bat, the screenplay is one of the best screenplays in film history. It boasts spectacular exposition and wooden yet realistic dialogue, with no plot conveniences. Everything in the film happens realistically and naturally. Even when the film has opportunities for plot convenience, it doesn’t use them. For example, when Ilsa meets Rick, it gives the audience a reason why she walked into his saloon, as it isn't just any saloon, it's the most popular saloon in Casablanca, the visa-keeper is there, and it’s prime time salon hour. The exposition in the film is also really well done. The film uses dialogue to reveal to the audience what is happening, such as when the short visa-keeper tells the old couple that there are "vultures everywhere" to explain that Casablanca is a corrupt city. This scene is so intelligent and is something modern Hollywood films can't do. The dialogue is wooden, reminiscent of the Star Wars prequels, where the characters' sentences are overly grammatically correct and unrealistic. But unlike the Star Wars prequels, Casablanca gives passionate performances and makes the wooden dialogue work.
The acting in Casablanca is phenomenal. Both Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman play their characters with genuine care and love. Humphrey Bogart portrays Rick as cynical when he throws away a woman, yet caring whenever he is talking to his employees. Ingrid Bergman portrays Ilsa as heartbroken, such as when she leaves Rick during the flashback sequence.
The music in Casablanca is remarkable as it blends the trumpet and piano in a way that creates a fantastically grand and epic score. The music in the opening credits helps set the film's tone as dramatic and passionate. Many movies today have no opening credits. This is a real shame, as when they're done right, they can help set the tone of the movie. And this is certainly the case for Casablanca.
The visual effects in Casablanca were standard for the time it was released. It uses only practical effects, which I applaud.
In conclusion, Casablanca boasts a fantastic screenplay, music, and performances, particularly from Bogart, but its cinematography is uninspiring.
