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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Now and Forever remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, this one is for the folks who love 1930s melodrama and don't mind when a script gets a bit too sentimental for its own good. If you can’t handle Shirley Temple being, well, extra Shirley Temple, stay far away. It’s not exactly The Easiest Way to spend an evening, but it’s got a specific kind of old-school charm.
Gary Cooper looks like he’s having a decent time, even if he’s clearly playing a guy who shouldn't be allowed near a child. He plays the 'charming rascal' archetype so well it’s almost frustrating. You want to root for him, but he’s basically a walking red flag.
The whole thing feels like it was put together in a rush. There’s this one scene in a hotel room where the decor is so busy it’s actually distracting. I spent five minutes trying to figure out if that was a real rug or just a prop. Who cares, right? But it stuck with me.
Carole Lombard is in this, too. She’s trying her best to ground the movie, but the dialogue often feels like it was written by three different people who weren't speaking to each other. She has this way of looking at Cooper that says, 'I know this is a bad idea,' which is honestly the most relatable part of the whole film.
It’s not as tightly wound as Exit Caesar, which is probably a good thing. Sometimes the messiness is the point. You can feel the studio trying to force a 'heartwarming' ending, and it lands with a thud. Still, there’s a flicker of something real whenever Cooper and Lombard share a frame.
It’s a weird, uneven flick. Not a masterpiece, but it definitely isn't boring. 🤷♂️