Casablanca Review

During the start of WWII Casablanca becomes a stop along the way for people fleeing from the Germans and heading to America. Rick Blaine, an exiled American, owns a popular night club and his former lover Ilsa and her husband resistance fighter Victor Laszlo come to Casablanca in hopes of getting passes to America. Rick obtains letters of transit that can get them to America and Rick who "doesn't stick his neck out for anyone" must decide if he wants to help them or not.

The most enjoyable thing in Casablanca is the character Rick Blaine because he is the classic type who claims to only have his own interests in mind, when really has a soft spot for his former lover and is a romantic at heart. Rick always takes the side of the underdog and is all for the independence movement. Ilsa is also a very strong character. She is a very modern independent woman who struggles to decide between staying with Rick and leaving with her husband. Each of the minor characters are well developed and interesting too. Background knowledge of the beginning of WWII is not necessary to enjoy the movie because its primary focus is not on the war. The movie flashbacks are slightly corny, but they are needed to set up the relationship between Ilsa and Rick. Casablanca is a good movie and many movies since then have taken elements from this movie because it seemed to work so well.

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