Sort of a Film Review | Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

Following this account on Twitter which solely posts screenshots scenes from different film featuring memorable quotes has its upside. It gives me ideas and suggestions as to what I should watch next (despite already having a two-page long list of movies to watch in 2016.) One that has been repeatedly shared on that account is these two images from Breakfast at Tiffany's. It features the scene – that I learned, was the pivotal moment of the film – where the guy confessed his love to the girl, but the girl refused and reasoned she didn't want to be caged. As I read the quotes without knowing the context, I thought to myself, the girl was right and that she had a good point. But after watching the 1961 film from the very elegant and interesting opening scene, down to that incredible moment under the rain, my opinion was changed.

The stunning Audrey Hepburn starred in Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961). And her portrayal as the café society gal Holly Golightly was said to be her most iconic and unforgettable character. This is the first Hepburn film (and probably won't be the last) that I've seen, but I can already agree with that. After all, when one's appreciating Audrey Hepburn, her picture wearing a black dress, with her hair styled in a high chignon, and her delicate hand holding this incredibly long cigarette holder always appears. It's like how Hugh Jackman is – more often than not – always remembered when Wolverine is mentioned. And her acting as the rich men enthusiast (and rumored to be a call girl) and a lady who's simply desperately trying to save money for his younger brother Fred was a delight to watch; though it is interesting to note that the author of the film source novel, Truman Capote, hated Hepburn's version of his beloved character. Nevertheless, her charm was all over the film. It's like she sprayed it throughout the movie – just like how Holly drunkenly sprayed her perfume all over her building-apartment. And she was funny. Not the kind of comical usually associated with pretty girls, but absolutely funny. And in that particular scene where she tried to steal a goldfish bowl (complete with the goldfish and the water), I was holding for my dear life as I guffawed all the way.

Despite her scene-stealing performance, George Peppard didn't shrink into a minute secondary character. Peppard portrayed the unnamed narrator from the source novel, but in the film he was given the name of Paul Varjak, a writer who only had written a single book. Peppard and Hepburn shared most of the scenes together, and they both shone in each frame magnificently. It's even hard to choose where you should focus because their stellar performances both demanded your attention.

Another thing that's made this quite memorable was the vividness and vibrancy of the colors in the whole film. It was just enough to make Peppard's clear blue eyes and the pastel colors of the things owned by Hepburn's Holly stood out. It's delectable to watch, and pleasurable, not at all irritating and mean to the eyes. And that choice in cinematography, along with the fashion and clothes featured, made Breakfast at Tiffany’s an aesthetic feat.

I believe that after watching the film, one would be influenced by Holly's "free-spirit" and "wild thing" belief and concept that they would try to be such as their own. And I think that's dangerous. Holly Golightly was a naive girl. Despite her constant denial, she was still indeed the 14-year old kid who ran away from home. And embarking the huge city of New York with a pre-adolescent eyes and mind may be fun, at the beginning, but it would end up being difficult. But the danger of it was not emphasized on the film. It's a romantic-comedy, after all. And it could cause many young people to travel in huge cities after huge cities with nothing but a childlike enthusiasm. But this is not to say that Holly Golightly isn't an empowerment to women. At a certain degree, she was empowering, with her wit, charm, downright tough gal attitude and her be-your-own-woman belief. And to be portrayed by an already prominent actress – who until today has an impact to the young minds – made the role even more influential. To summarize my rambling: Holly Golightly is indeed a significant and empowering role, but she's not the perfect role model. Her naïveté can be, at least, troublesome, but at most, unsafe.

Other Point:

• The caricature-like portrayal of the Japanese tenant by a white actor is plain annoying. And it created some stir when it was released back in 1961. But what's more worrisome is that until now, that Yellowface controversy is still unresolved.

In the end, Breakfast at Tiffany's is absolutely entertaining and such a delight to watch. 

Overall Rating: 8/10