Ace in the Hole

Concise, effective, timeless. While most American films celebrate journalists as harbingers of harsh truths and illicit machinations, Wilder here shows their other, darker and truer side: the face of ruthless hoodlums who don't hesitate to gamble with human life for their big story, with an unforgettable performance by the brilliant Kirk Douglass. An even sharper and more unrelenting critique of media practices for its time than Fincher's Gone Girl, 64 years later, and a shining testament to the fact that in post-war Hollywood filmmakers were capable of conjuring up important and relevant ideas with simple premises and composition. (06/04/2016)

"Bad news sells best. Cause good news is no news." Billy Wilder could make movies that were clever romps that noone could fault. Ace in the Hole is one of them. The movie’s great strength lies in Kirk Douglas’ performance, as he managed to deliver a wonderfully complex portrayal of an unscrupulous journalist who is aware some of his actions are dastardly, yet pushes the envelope further and further. The turn of events in this movie is perhaps a little too over the top in the end, however, it still manages to do a great job of showing people's thirst for sensationalist news articles, and the absurdity of making a mountain out of a molehill by any means necessary. The movie’s premise is simple, yet very powerful and eloquent at the same time. (13/06/2021)

Kirk Douglas wasn't afraid, and that's a good thing because the character he portrayed here is thoroughly despicable, and that's the aspect that dominates him. In the end, the whole film is about how despicable a person can be. Great acting under great direction with a great script. These are the kind of films that easily make you realize how despicable human beings can be. (24/10/2014)