simon carefully write dialogue be truly electrify by matthau and burn . you can literally hear the script crackle . there be few movie out there that can develop such a relationship between the actor and the script . for example and the famed reunion scene could have be a lot duller with less quality actor involve . matthau seem to have be bear to play willie clark ( of course and oscar moreso in the odd couple ) and and with all of the little idiosyncracies and mannerism that matthau crams into the character ( the line where he be argue that he be with it since he live in the city whereas lewis live in the country that lewis be out of touch be the quintessential example of this ) make this one of the best performance i have ever see of any actor in any role and be it comedic or drama or whatever else . period . matthau and burn work excellently together while the contrast they portray accentuates simon superb knack at create comedic conflict . this movie be simply one of the ultimate must see and do demand a rightful prestigious place in the page of film history .