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3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. War Correspondent remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that smell like old film stock and have that frantic, 1940s energy, you'll probably dig War Correspondent. It is not for the person who needs a polished, high-def blockbuster to stay awake, though. If you hate movies where the audio track sounds like it was recorded in a tin can, steer clear.
The pacing is all over the place, which is honestly kind of refreshing. One minute, people are whispering in dark alleys, and the next, there’s a full-on rush to get a telegram sent. It’s messy. I liked it.
Watching this made me think of the tone in Min and Bill, where things just sort of happen to the characters without much explanation. You’re just thrown into the deep end. You either swim or you get confused. I found myself mostly swimming.
The writing is sharp, but it moves fast. If you check your phone for even a second, you’ll miss why the guy in the hat is suddenly angry. It’s not subtle. It doesn't want to be.
Is it a masterpiece? No. But it has this raw, unfiltered energy that a lot of modern stuff lacks. It doesn't feel like it was focus-grouped to death. It feels like a bunch of people just wanted to film a story about a reporter losing his mind in a foreign city. 🎞️
I caught myself noticing the background extras more than the main plot at one point. There’s a guy in the background of the cafe scene who clearly just wandered onto the set. He’s looking at the camera, then looking away, then looking back. It’s distracting, but in a charming, "we only had one take" kind of way.
Honestly? It’s a bit of a relic. But it’s a relic that still bites. Just don't take it too seriously.
