Brandon at Random Reviews

There’s something about the feeling of intensity, something that gets your blood moving and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Alfred Hitchcock, AKA “The Master of Suspense”, understood this concept very well and made dozens of thrilling movies that brought out a sense of concern and fear for the characters on-screen. The man made “Pyscho”, “Vertigo”, “North by Northwest”, and “The Birds” among many others. But this reviewer’s personal favorite has to be one called “Rear Window” featuring James Stewart and Grace Kelly.

Stewart plays a photographer who injured himself in the process of trying to get too ambitious of a shot during a car race, so he is holed up in his apartment in a cast that takes up half of his body. During this time he has little to do in the way of entertainment and takes to observing the goings on of his neighbors across the courtyard through his titular rear window. Obviously not everything is sunshine and roses with everyone and suspicion is beckoned by certain questionable activities. Stewart is dating the one and only Grace Kelly and I gotta say if you’re Jimmy Stewart and you land the charming and beautiful fucking Grace Kelly and she’s totally into you, you need to slap a ring on that finger as quick as you fucking can and not be a knob about it. It’s Grace Kelly, Jimbo. You ain’t finding better.

Also, the feeling of helplessness brought on by Stewart’s character being in an immobilized state in his cast is stupendous. Most everything we see is from his perspective, his understanding of the situations playing out around him. He holds such close attention to what surrounds him and has such a sense of curiosity. Fuck. It’s so good.

There is so much built up in this small collection of characters seen through open/uncurtained windows that it’s truly amazing. We care about the good people. We are concerned by the bad people. There is something about the tension built while not being able to hear what is being said. The body language. The interpersonal dynamics. Hitchcock just knew exactly what he was doing when making movies. He knew what would bring viewers to the edge of their seats and create a sense of immersion.

I would say you need to check this out. I’d put it on a list of movies you need to see before you die, along with a lot of other Hitchcock. The performances, the way it’s all shot, the immersion of the viewer into ever scene. Spectacular. Go watch it right now. Don’t delay.

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