The Treasure of the Sierra Madre may quite possibly be the greatest movie ever made. Yes, it is that awesome.
Every element is either perfect or near-perfect (only the limitations of that era would allow an element to be only "near" perfect).
The black and white cinematography is gorgeous. Very crisp and clean, with excellent compositions. Its one of those elements that works so well, because you barely notice the camera-work. This is not flashy like a Scorsese movie, this is subtle and effective.
Great music. Not the most memorable score ever, but way above average.
The story is absolutely timeless - a grinding, unapologetic and philosophical deconstruction of the most base aspects of humanity; and not a very positive one either. Greed, desire, jealousy, vanity, paranoia are all the key words in describing the issues that the screenplay tackles. The movie also deals with some other concepts like the American work ethic, the pioneering spirit, progress, paradise lost and found, etc etc etc. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. This movie really digs deep into the human experience - raw and harsh at its core. Other movies have dealt with these themes, some effectively some with nothing but clichés. The best of them - There Will Be Blood, Network, Wall Street...are all bastard children of the granddaddy of them all - The Treasure of the Sierra Made.
Acting. While Bogey is best known for Casablanca and the Marlowe detective thrillers like The Big Sleep, TTofTSM is the pinnacle of his career. That character embodies all that is great about Bogart's acting talents. The grime, the gruff, the bad attitude, the wicked looks...its all there; Bogey at his best. But.... then there is Walter Huston. This actor steals the show like few actors have ever done before. His performance is not only flawless, it almost breaks the 4th wall - its as if the filmmakers are suddenly staring you right in the face and letting loose on you. Walter Huston - his performance and his character define this film; and elevate it to the next level of absolute greatness. Kudos here must definitely go to the writing. The lines that Huston delivers are devastatingly poignant yet savage. He has some of the best dialogue ever put on film; none of it is dated, in fact it is so modern and ahead-of-the-times that is almost seems out of place for a movie in the 1940's.
For a movie almost 70 years old, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre can still hold up against any of the modern classics, in fact it still trounces 99.9% of all movies released today. This film should never be forgotten or brushed aside, it should be put on a pedestal as one of the great works of art of the 20th century!
Every element is either perfect or near-perfect (only the limitations of that era would allow an element to be only "near" perfect).
The black and white cinematography is gorgeous. Very crisp and clean, with excellent compositions. Its one of those elements that works so well, because you barely notice the camera-work. This is not flashy like a Scorsese movie, this is subtle and effective.
Great music. Not the most memorable score ever, but way above average.
The story is absolutely timeless - a grinding, unapologetic and philosophical deconstruction of the most base aspects of humanity; and not a very positive one either. Greed, desire, jealousy, vanity, paranoia are all the key words in describing the issues that the screenplay tackles. The movie also deals with some other concepts like the American work ethic, the pioneering spirit, progress, paradise lost and found, etc etc etc. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. This movie really digs deep into the human experience - raw and harsh at its core. Other movies have dealt with these themes, some effectively some with nothing but clichés. The best of them - There Will Be Blood, Network, Wall Street...are all bastard children of the granddaddy of them all - The Treasure of the Sierra Made.
Acting. While Bogey is best known for Casablanca and the Marlowe detective thrillers like The Big Sleep, TTofTSM is the pinnacle of his career. That character embodies all that is great about Bogart's acting talents. The grime, the gruff, the bad attitude, the wicked looks...its all there; Bogey at his best. But.... then there is Walter Huston. This actor steals the show like few actors have ever done before. His performance is not only flawless, it almost breaks the 4th wall - its as if the filmmakers are suddenly staring you right in the face and letting loose on you. Walter Huston - his performance and his character define this film; and elevate it to the next level of absolute greatness. Kudos here must definitely go to the writing. The lines that Huston delivers are devastatingly poignant yet savage. He has some of the best dialogue ever put on film; none of it is dated, in fact it is so modern and ahead-of-the-times that is almost seems out of place for a movie in the 1940's.
For a movie almost 70 years old, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre can still hold up against any of the modern classics, in fact it still trounces 99.9% of all movies released today. This film should never be forgotten or brushed aside, it should be put on a pedestal as one of the great works of art of the 20th century!