The Americanization of Emily - Report Card
1964s The Americanization of Emily, based on the 1959 book of the same name, is a rare piece. It's not often you see such a cynical look at the military and war in the context of World War II. How well does the movie hit its points? Does The Americanization of Emily hold up?
PLOT (Spoiler Free)
Lt. Commander Madison is a self-described coward; he is in the military but does everything he can to avoid combat, while on assignment working in London for an admiral he meets the titular Emily. After heated debates and well executed dialog the two fall hard for each other and discuss the real costs of war while attempting to find a way out of Madison's dangerous upcoming assignment.
The Americanization of Emily is slow to start, focusing much of the first half on the main characters learning to love each other and discussing their views. The dialog though saves the beginning of the movie, the cynical discussions on American involvement, war heroes, and clashing views were enough to keep me engaged until any real conflict takes place. Once the conflict is introduced, Madison being given an arguably trivial suicide mission, the plot kicks into high gear. There were genuinely shocks and twists that were unexpected and well placed making the last hour of the movie fly by.
Plot Grade - B+ 89/100
Character & Performance
James Garner, playing Lt. Commander Madison, plays an excellent coward. Unrepentant and proud to have survived thus far. Garner gives several longer monologs and never of them overstay their welcome, Garner's performance allows his character to have both an character arc, yet emotionally ending at the exact same place as he started.
Julie Andrews, the titular Emily, is given the most dynamic arc. The entire film is about "Americanizing" her stereotypical British attitude. Emily's character traits slowly and brilliantly morph throughout the film and it is all beautifully performed by Andrews, proving she was more than just the singing babysitter and singing nun from her two most recognizable performances from the era.
Where the characters falter most is in its supporting characters. James Coburn's Lt. Commander Cummings is constantly flipping motivations and ideals with little to no provocation. Melvyn Douglas' Admiral Jessup, while shines towards the end of the movie, depicts mental illness and stress in such a disappointing way it does not invoke the humor I believe it was meant to.
Characters & Performances Grade - B- 82/100
Cinematography
The Americanization of Emily is well blocked and beautiful to look at when it put forth the effort. Scenes early in the film are well blocked and show the sets are interesting when the characters do not do as much. Towards the latter half of the movie though the production was forced to use stock footage to save on budget and it shows, while this does not ruin the movie by any means the jump between stock footage and actual movie jarred me more than once.
Bonus points to a wonderful and awkward shot of James Garner being the only man on an undisturbed Omaha beach moments before the DDay invasion begins. (+5)
Cinematography Grade - B 86/100
Again, The Americanization of Emily is rare piece. It tackles concepts and ideas that wouldn't be touched again for maybe a decade. The film introduces both sides of controversial topics and handles them in adult, well-spoken ways. While James Garner and Julie Andrews deliver powerful performances the movie falters most when it is trying to be funny at moments that just feel inappropriate. Despite the comedy falling short in this comedy / drama / war film there are more than enough interesting moments and ideas to keep most anybody entertained.
FINAL GRADE - B 86/100 (257/300)
Please remember that Film, Television, and all art is 100% subjective. Do not let this, or any review or rating stop you from enjoying or seeking out any product.
1964s The Americanization of Emily, based on the 1959 book of the same name, is a rare piece. It's not often you see such a cynical look at the military and war in the context of World War II. How well does the movie hit its points? Does The Americanization of Emily hold up?
PLOT (Spoiler Free)
Lt. Commander Madison is a self-described coward; he is in the military but does everything he can to avoid combat, while on assignment working in London for an admiral he meets the titular Emily. After heated debates and well executed dialog the two fall hard for each other and discuss the real costs of war while attempting to find a way out of Madison's dangerous upcoming assignment.
The Americanization of Emily is slow to start, focusing much of the first half on the main characters learning to love each other and discussing their views. The dialog though saves the beginning of the movie, the cynical discussions on American involvement, war heroes, and clashing views were enough to keep me engaged until any real conflict takes place. Once the conflict is introduced, Madison being given an arguably trivial suicide mission, the plot kicks into high gear. There were genuinely shocks and twists that were unexpected and well placed making the last hour of the movie fly by.
Plot Grade - B+ 89/100
Character & Performance
James Garner, playing Lt. Commander Madison, plays an excellent coward. Unrepentant and proud to have survived thus far. Garner gives several longer monologs and never of them overstay their welcome, Garner's performance allows his character to have both an character arc, yet emotionally ending at the exact same place as he started.
Julie Andrews, the titular Emily, is given the most dynamic arc. The entire film is about "Americanizing" her stereotypical British attitude. Emily's character traits slowly and brilliantly morph throughout the film and it is all beautifully performed by Andrews, proving she was more than just the singing babysitter and singing nun from her two most recognizable performances from the era.
Where the characters falter most is in its supporting characters. James Coburn's Lt. Commander Cummings is constantly flipping motivations and ideals with little to no provocation. Melvyn Douglas' Admiral Jessup, while shines towards the end of the movie, depicts mental illness and stress in such a disappointing way it does not invoke the humor I believe it was meant to.
Characters & Performances Grade - B- 82/100
Cinematography
The Americanization of Emily is well blocked and beautiful to look at when it put forth the effort. Scenes early in the film are well blocked and show the sets are interesting when the characters do not do as much. Towards the latter half of the movie though the production was forced to use stock footage to save on budget and it shows, while this does not ruin the movie by any means the jump between stock footage and actual movie jarred me more than once.
Bonus points to a wonderful and awkward shot of James Garner being the only man on an undisturbed Omaha beach moments before the DDay invasion begins. (+5)
Cinematography Grade - B 86/100
Again, The Americanization of Emily is rare piece. It tackles concepts and ideas that wouldn't be touched again for maybe a decade. The film introduces both sides of controversial topics and handles them in adult, well-spoken ways. While James Garner and Julie Andrews deliver powerful performances the movie falters most when it is trying to be funny at moments that just feel inappropriate. Despite the comedy falling short in this comedy / drama / war film there are more than enough interesting moments and ideas to keep most anybody entertained.
FINAL GRADE - B 86/100 (257/300)
Please remember that Film, Television, and all art is 100% subjective. Do not let this, or any review or rating stop you from enjoying or seeking out any product.