Casablanca

This should be considered a cult film. Those who love the film do so without regret or angst. They also do so without just explanation to why it is great. Those who hate it can point out the obvious romance cliches, but those cliches are why the first group loves it. Ingrid Bergman is a model photographed from one side instead of an actress here and Bogart has fine moments, but the writing doesn't give him a character. It's a camp romance filled with cliche dialogue that reminiscences about what they had in Paris, but not about them. People should not compliment what just formulaic for the times. Incompetence is the only thing that held this movie back. I also don't believe Ebert when he says the depth comes in the scene of actual French citizens sing the song of French resistance during WW2. It is only one scene. Ebert does a better job in his commentary to point out the numerous filmmaking inaccuracies in the film. So much for the height of classical hollywood cinema!