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Rear Window- 1954
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" is an amzing film that looks at sin, boredom, and dillusion. Furthermore, it surprisingly makes a film that takes place at a window 90 percent of the time greatly suspensful.
J.B. Jefferies, played well by James Stewart, is our main character. A wheelchair bound photographer who sits at his apartment window and observes his neighbors, he thinks he has witnessed a murder across the street in the apartment of a couple when a lady dissapears and obvious clues linking to a murder arise.
What makes Rear Window so great is that we see the movie through Jefferie's eyes completely. Nothing that Jefferies cannot see is not revealed to us. Everything is through his perspective which makes this movie great. Not only are our eyes limited to what he sees, but so is our mind. Our opinions and thoughts are limited to the opinions and thoughts of Jefferies. This not only adds an interesting factor to the film but also a great suspense factor.
We, the audience, cannot move around, go off and think for ourselves. When we see danger approaching, so does Jefferies. And because he is confined to stay put, so are we. He cannot stop the danger, and neither can we. This makes for great suspense. The only way we are allowed to go off to another view or place is through two other characters Hitchcock invented. Lisa, Jefferie's lonely girlfriend, and Stella, Jefferie's housemaid. These two characters, because they are not confined, are the characters that, when a clue appears, go off in search for it. Be that as it may, we can only witness and watch them "clue-search" from Jefferie's apartment window.
The only downfall is that the plot, sadly, drags a bit. Because Hitchcock builds up a mountain of suspense, we wait anxiously for the finale to crumble this mountain, in a good way of course. But we seem to wait too long. And in my opinion, the finale does and does not compensate for the long wait as I expected it too. My emotions towards it were mixed.
Nonetheless, not only is there a genius plot and great style, but the acting is great too. James Stewart and Grace Kelly both provide enough great acting that they are so believable. Also, Stewart plays a great role. He creates Jefferies so that even though confined to a wheelchair, he is still very much alive. And we can either like him or hate him for his persona. Hitchcock, Stewart, and Kelly cook up a recipe for a great thriller. And this one tastes good.
4 1/2 out of 5
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" is an amzing film that looks at sin, boredom, and dillusion. Furthermore, it surprisingly makes a film that takes place at a window 90 percent of the time greatly suspensful.
J.B. Jefferies, played well by James Stewart, is our main character. A wheelchair bound photographer who sits at his apartment window and observes his neighbors, he thinks he has witnessed a murder across the street in the apartment of a couple when a lady dissapears and obvious clues linking to a murder arise.
What makes Rear Window so great is that we see the movie through Jefferie's eyes completely. Nothing that Jefferies cannot see is not revealed to us. Everything is through his perspective which makes this movie great. Not only are our eyes limited to what he sees, but so is our mind. Our opinions and thoughts are limited to the opinions and thoughts of Jefferies. This not only adds an interesting factor to the film but also a great suspense factor.
We, the audience, cannot move around, go off and think for ourselves. When we see danger approaching, so does Jefferies. And because he is confined to stay put, so are we. He cannot stop the danger, and neither can we. This makes for great suspense. The only way we are allowed to go off to another view or place is through two other characters Hitchcock invented. Lisa, Jefferie's lonely girlfriend, and Stella, Jefferie's housemaid. These two characters, because they are not confined, are the characters that, when a clue appears, go off in search for it. Be that as it may, we can only witness and watch them "clue-search" from Jefferie's apartment window.
The only downfall is that the plot, sadly, drags a bit. Because Hitchcock builds up a mountain of suspense, we wait anxiously for the finale to crumble this mountain, in a good way of course. But we seem to wait too long. And in my opinion, the finale does and does not compensate for the long wait as I expected it too. My emotions towards it were mixed.
Nonetheless, not only is there a genius plot and great style, but the acting is great too. James Stewart and Grace Kelly both provide enough great acting that they are so believable. Also, Stewart plays a great role. He creates Jefferies so that even though confined to a wheelchair, he is still very much alive. And we can either like him or hate him for his persona. Hitchcock, Stewart, and Kelly cook up a recipe for a great thriller. And this one tastes good.
4 1/2 out of 5