“Double Indemnity” is
the film noir classic before there was such a genre. It forced extramarital sex
and murder onto 1940s America, a place not used to seeing its own sin displayed
onscreen. It’s a miracle the film ever got made. (Confused? If you tune in Fox
News or vote Republican, then you know all about ignoring sin and fact. Please, go away.) I digress. This classic follows a greedy salesman
(Fred MacMurray) out to dump unneeded car insurance on a rich prick, but instead
gets sucked in by the man’s amoral wife (Barbara Stanwyck, has there been a deadlier/cooler actress?) who sees opportunity: Off hubby, get fucked on the side, and get
rich. I will not spill plot, or the inevitable (government-forced) ending,
but marvel at every beautiful cruel act. Billy Wilder made this gem, and he
knows gems, and this may be his best. The lead actors kill as immoral shits you
want to see die, but truly fantasize about. Best asset: Regular Hollywood tough guy Edward G. Robinson as the hero and book nerd! Dig his
angry geek tirade against low-IQ insurance dweebs, and witness acting at its
greatest. One of the true Hollywood greats, a must watch. A+
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