For the next installment of Genre Grandeur, I bring you a review from JJames. His site is always enjoyable to read and he really has very interesting insight into all movies he watches. I really enjoy discussing movie with him whenever possible. If you don’t already follow his site, I strongly urge you to do so.
Now, without further ado, Heeerrrreee’ssss JJames with his review of Hitchcock’s Rear Window:
- One of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest achievements, Rear Window is almost flawless.
- Not least because Hitchcock’s technique intensifies tension. By shooting almost every scene from Jeff’s (James Stewart) rear window point of view, the director makes us feel the protagonist’s isolation, impotence and fantasy.
- The movie’s score does the same. Filled with ample repetitiveness and plenty of heart-pounding moments, the music is anxiety inducing.
- So are the performances, especially Stewart’s. Immobility only helps the actor hit the proper notes. Because of Stewart’s facial expressions, slight gestures and general body language, we feel Jeff’s obsession.
- Therein is why we never judge his voyeurism. The director and actor effectively turn us into watchers, as well. We too want the newly-weds to open their shades, Miss Lonely Hearts to find some happiness, the musician to finish his masterpiece, and so on.
- It is amazing filmmaking, all the more so because Hitchcock eventually deconstructs our attachment to Jeff. When Doyle (Wendall Corey) convinces that the neighborhood is crime-less, we are as disappointed as the protagonist and his girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly).
- What does that say about us? About them?
- Such questions are why Rear Window resonates thematically. And proves as thrilling as it does.
- The finale helps in that regard. Yes it adds certainty, but it doesn’t undermine the rest of the picture, an impressive feat, to say the least. For much of its running time, Rear Window works because questions go unanswered, because the film is ambiguous. Given that, eventual factual reveals risk reducing tension.
- Here they never do. They only increase it.
- So as not to spoil anything, I will not expound the point; I will only suggest it is Rear Window’s greatest achievement.
- Which is amplified by the virtual meaninglessness of the film’s minor flaws. Characters arrive in Jeff’s neighborhood a little too quickly, fudging timelines in ways that aren’t entirely believable.
- Moreover, Lisa, who lacks characterization outside of supporting Jeff, is not well developed.
- Something that might be a bigger issue if Grace Kelly’s performance were not so enchanting. But Kelly adds nuance and depth to a character that has little of either.
- And so even Lisa actually becomes a strength.
- Rear Window is a masterfully suspenseful psychological thriller that earns and retains the viewer’s investment. It might be Alfred Hitchcock’s best movie.
- Final Assessment: Oscar Worthy
Thanks again to JJames for his excellent review!
If anyone else is still interested in sending me their review of their favorite Thriller, email it to me at thriller@movierob.net before 25 March 2014
Thanks for letting me participate! It was fun (I have seen this movie several times before – even briefly considered it for the Top Ten Zoe published, but it’s always fun to have an excuse to watch an old favorite).
LikeLike
I have actually never seen it, I saw Disturbia (2007) if that counts 🙂 I’m waaay behind on my Hitchcock films 🙂
Thank YOU Josh!
LikeLike
Disturbia is not bad. At all. But it isn’t nearly as good as Rear Window. 🙂
LikeLike
Added to my list (which keeps getting longer and longer) 🙂
LikeLike
I know what you mean by that. I will likely never see all of the movies on my list.
LikeLike
I hope to try, the problem is the list keep growing and growing. 🙂
LikeLike
Especially since starting a movie blog. 🙂
LikeLike
of course, it’s because all you guys keep giving me new ideas for what to watch and re-watch 🙂
I’m not complaining tho 🙂
LikeLike
Great stuff, Gents!! An excellent film!
LikeLike
Thanks. And agreed. Definitely excellent, this one.
LikeLike
Thanks Eric. You’ve seen this one???
LikeLike
Of course!
LikeLike
I love this film and now I want to watch it again!
LikeLike
I have seen it several times before as well. It’s so good that I never mind returning to it.
LikeLike
Nice review, Josh! This was yet another one I intended to do for Resolutions…and didn’t. Haha. I do love me some Jimmy Stewart. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you. 🙂
I haven’t seen a ton of Stewart’s work, but of the movies I’ve seen him in, I think this easily his best work. For whatever that’s worth.
LikeLike
Josh, try Rope (1948), Harvey (1950), The Man who Knew Too Much (1956), Anatomy of a Murder (1959) or It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) for some great Stewart performances
LikeLike
I have seen the last. It is superb. Rear Window, in my opinion, is better.
I’ll check out the others at some point.
LikeLike
Can’t wait to hear what you think of them
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Excellent review Josh!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Definitely need to see this again, I haven’t since I was a hell of a lot younger!
LikeLike
Good work Josh! This is one of my favourite Hitchcock films, as is probably the case with most people to be honest.
LikeLike
Probably. Hard to find fault with it, so it’ll be equally hard to find people who dislike it. 🙂
LikeLike
now I really gotta see this one. I feel quite inept 😦
LikeLike
Pingback: Revisiting Yesteryear | jjames reviews
Pingback: Genre Grandeur March Update | MovieRob