Atlantic City

Atlantic City, directed by Louis Malle and released in 1980, is a compelling crime drama that smartly explores distinct themes of chance and rebirth against the backdrop of a city in the throes of a transformative rebirth. Amidst the high-stakes world of casinos, gambling, and dangerous underworld, it manages to tell a story of loneliness, dreams, love, and resilience. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, inclusive of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, and speaks volumes of the film's quality, performances, and narration.

Burt Lancaster, who plays the lead, is "Lou," an old numbers-runner and a small-time gangster, who, despite his current lowly circumstances, still clings to the once glamorous but now faded past. He yearnfully watches the world transform around him as the casino business engulfs the shabby, crumbling parts of Atlantic City. Lou's empty life fills with meaning when he encounters Sally played by Susan Sarandon, a young aspiring dealer for a casino, who becomes his object of infatuation. With her youthful dreams and ambitions, Sally counters Lou's nostalgic embrace of the past, representing the city's hope to reinvent itself in the light of the booming gambling scene.

The story takes a dramatic turn as Sally's estranged husband, Dave (Robert Joy), a small-time crook, saunters back into her life, along with Sally's pregnant sister Chrissie (Hollis McLaren). When Dave steals cocaine from a pair of mobsters and tries to sell it, Lou seizes this opportunity to regain his lost stature in the underworld, thus setting the narrative into an intriguing web of love, longing, second chances and crime.

Director Louis Malle has masterfully juxtaposed the personal narratives of these characters with the changing face of Atlantic City. The once renowned playground of gangsters is now withering away, cementing its declining glory under the construction sites of new casino resorts. Malle uses this architectural transition as a metaphor reflecting the contrasting lives of Lou and Sally.

Burt Lancaster as Lou delivers an impactful performance. His characterization of the aging, small-time mobster, who gets a shot at redemption, is poignant and deeply soulful. It's a study in contrast, a decaying man revitalizing his life in a city that is reborn in decay. Lancaster's portrayal of Lou's transition from a has-been to a man rediscovering his worth is a treat to watch.

Susan Sarandon as Sally paints a picture of hope, desperation, and pragmatic ambition. From a worn-out waitress to an aspiring casino dealer, her journey brings forth the spirit of a city striving to rejuvenate itself. Sarandon's strong performance makes Sally's struggle and aspiration palpable to the audience, and her nuanced depiction is a definite high point of the film.

The cinematography of the film by Richard Ciupka offers an enriching visual experience, capably capturing the city on the brink of transition. His frames talk of the lingering sheen of the old-world charm getting overshadowed by the flashy skyline of mushrooming casinos. The score by Michel Legrand is also noteworthy, beautifully complementing the mood and tone of the film.

The film is strong on its dramatic twists and turns, leading to an unexpected climax, without diverging from the emotional core of its characters. The screenplay by John Guare is taut, interweaving the themes of aspiration, disillusionment, and reinvention, beautifully personified by the denizens of the city and the city itself.

To sum up, "Atlantic City" is a remarkably evocative film that reflects a fading age of mobsters' glory seen through the eyes of aging runners like Lou and the emergence of a new age, embodied by aspirational young dreamers like Sally. The film is symbolic of a dying old world innocently longing for its past grandeur, concurrently mirroring the exciting promise of new beginnings. Despite its vintage presentation, "Atlantic City" remains resonant even today for its timeless exploration of human aspirations and the constant cycle of decay and rebirth.