On V List of Movie Reviews
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Vertigo (1958)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
6/06, 12/13
6/06:
Impatience is what I felt through Vertigo for a while, thinking it was going to be one of those films that focused
on a mundane love story with zero chemistry.
In other words, Vertigo was looking more like a typical 40-50's soap opera melodrama. Suddenly, the aftermath of
the scene atop the Bell Tower forced a huge turnaround in my perspective which led to the most volatile ending I had witnessed
in a Hitchcockian film.
I didn't see it coming, and the more I think about what happened, the more I wonder about how extremely difficult it was to
edit the movie. In short, it's the most intense psychological thriller made. All the credit goes to Kim Novak for providing most
of the impact to make the story work. James Stewart, on the other hand, is excellent as the acrophobic detective.
All in all, Vertigo is a technically, visually, psychologically, and brilliantly crafted neo-noir.
12/13:
One of the hardest accomplishments in cinema is to craft a psychological thriller picture, and there are so few that
I can define as a masterpiece.
Vertigo is among them. It's also one of the most meticulously made. All aspects including acting, screenplay,
in/exterior sets, fashion, sound, score, and cinematography come together so well that it's a rare achievement.
It exemplfies what a legendary director Alfred Hitchcock was and why his movies are still revered to this day. There's
something about them that's timeless.
All in all, Vertigo is a true representation of Alfred Hitchcock's filmmaking genius.