Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)
Rating: 9.5
Ace in the Hole seems as fresh today as it did in the 50s as it explores the evils of the media and how it breeds greed, lies, and corruption. Kirk Douglas is fabulous as the scheming alcoholic news reporter who stumbles upon a big story while driving through a small town. After discovering a man is trapped inside a cave, he delays the rescue to benefit his career, while bribing the sheriff, Lorraine , the victim's wife, and others along the way. The site of the accident attracts an evergrowing crowd of observers, and eventually a carnival even pays Lorraine to setup nearby. The film contains many instances of exploitation and manipulation that left me aghast, but the ominous pounding of the drill digging through the cave juxtaposed with the revelry of the carnival outside just after Leroy's death is in my opinion the most detestable.
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