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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Once in a Lifetime remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for the kind of frantic, door-slamming humor that was big in the 1930s. If you hate old movies that feel like they're trying to give you a headache with how fast everyone is talking, stay away. This movie is basically a scream-fest.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got this weird, desperate energy. Kind of like if you tried to run a marathon while holding a megaphone. 📢
There’s this moment where the main characters just sort of stumble into success, and the movie expects you to just go with it. It’s less of a plot and more of a series of loud people shouting in offices. You can almost feel the stage play roots trying to burst out of the frame.
The transition from silents to sound is the hook, sure. But mostly, it’s just people acting like absolute maniacs in fancy suits. I found myself wondering if anyone in this version of Hollywood actually knew how to make a movie, or if they were all just guessing.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Come Clean, though maybe a bit less focused on slapstick and more on just plain panic. It’s got that same vibe of 'we’re making this up as we go along.'
Sometimes the movie gets so loud you can’t tell who is saying what. It’s messy. I didn’t hate it, though.
If you like movies about making movies, it’s a decent curiosity. Just don't go in expecting some deep, historical look at the industry. It’s a farce. A very, very loud farce.
It’s not as charming as The Patent Leather Pug, but it’s certainly more ambitious in its own scattered, dizzying way. Maybe save this for a Sunday afternoon when you don't want to think too hard about, well, anything at all. 🎬