Double Indemnity (1944)

Synopsis: Walter Neff is a fast talking insurance salesman. He is the leading salesman in his firm, the All Risk Pacific Firm. He meets his match when he goes on a routine automobilie renewal run and runs into Phyllis Dietrichson. She's the wife of a wealthy oil executive but she hates her husband. Ah... don't we all. She hates him so much that she wants him dead and collect some insurance while she's at it. But Walter Neff is good, he's real good at spotting the phonies. Partly because of his best friend, Keyes who works at claims. Like Neff, Keyes is the best in the biz and nothing gets by him. Neff tries to walk away from the femme fatale but he just can't quite do it. A life of a man is a tricky business like they say. Neff succumbs to this murdering beauty and plots with her a plan to kill her husband and collect double indemnity on his death. Neff knows all the tricks you see, he knows what's coming, except he can't see it, even when it's straight down the line.

Should You Watch It? If you have ever wondered what real film noir is like then you've come to the right film. Not only is this movie a straight up noir film, it practically defined the genre when it was made in 1944. The rich black and white style at the time was probably a neccessity for than a stylistic choice but it suits this film like a glove. The characters all talk in that sorta cool guy banter that noir is famous for. Every film lover should sit down and give this one a look unless they're just really not into black and white then okay.

Things to Watch Out For: Being a noir film, there are a lot of symbolism and thematic elements to it. The honeysuckle flavour that Neff refers to is quite interesting as well as the anklet that Phyllis wears. These things all come back again and again and it adds great flavour to a brilliant plot line. The beauty of this film is in the simplicity for sure.

Things You Don't Expect: The only thing that dates this movie except for the colour or lack there of is the sound. I know, I know, it's like a long time ago and sound isn't what it is now, but sometimes it's a bit distracting. That is only a minor complaint though and it only happens once in the movie where it catches any attention.

Final Comments:
Story: 9.0 (James M. Cain: novel, Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler: screenplay)
Direction: 8.0 (Billy Wilder)
Acting: 7.8
Cinematography: 7.5
Music/Sound: 5.5

Final Score: 8.0