Proves that a simple Stanley is a good Stanley. In many ways it’s his most straightforward, accessible film, but it’s still recognizably him because of the editing, excellent camerawork and great performances. The characters are well formed and I like its partial focus on the wife character, because the female perspective in a male dominated crime world usually leads to an interesting dynamic (just look at _Widows_, which I’m sure was inspired by this film to some extent). The entire second half (which consists mostly of the heist) is a lot of fun to watch, with Kubrick using a bunch of techniques to add more suspense (cross-cutting, time jumps). It’s the part of the film where you can really see Christopher Nolan’s admiration for this man on full display. I could’ve done without the narration, because it doesn’t add all that much to the film, even despite it being a staple of the noir genre. It’s also not Kubrick’s most ambitious by any means, however it might just be the best gateway into his filmography. Who doesn’t love a great heist film? This one has aged very well (even the pacing is still very tight, it’s always moving) and inspired countless other films, so it’s definetely worth your time.

8/10