Movie Review #5: Vertigo, 1958
Since it's nearing my favorite holiday, Halloween, I thought we should take time out to include a Hitchcock favorite! Although I had viewed this movie before, it had been a while, and I have to say that it was a real pleasure to watch!
The mastery of Hitchcock is in the way in which he is able to pull you in, and before you even realize it, you are just as hooked as the main character! All along, you think the movie is about the mental state of Madeline, played by Kim Novak, the woman who is supposedly possessed by the spirit of her dead lovelorn grandmother, but that's where he gets you.
The genius of it is that the movie takes you on a journey through the mind...the mind of Scotty, the retired detective played by Jimmy Stuart, who goes through dealing with a post-traumatic stress situation where he is afraid of heights. At the same time he has to deal with being newly retired and useless, all while becoming obsessed...or shall we say possessed...with a beautifully tragic and otherworldly woman. He starts to lose himself in Madeline's story, and by the end of the story, he's the one that doesn't know what's real and what's not.
The vertigo or dizziness in the movie represents Scotty's life that is spinning out-of-control, and his inability to deal with it. The parts that tricks the viewers is that you don't realize that the main character is unstable until near the end, because you've been focusing on Madeline's craziness. Not until he sees the necklace do you see him come back, but by that time he snaps, and all the anger and frustration that he's been holding back comes pouring out...all onto Madeline.
For me, the psychological thriller has always been my favorite type of Halloween movie. And, I recommend this as one that should be included! This makes it to number 9 on the 100 Years 100 Movies list, and takes the top spot of all the Hitchcock thrillers.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
"Some Like It Hot" is a hoot!
Movie Review #4: Some Like It Hot, 1959
Number 22 on the AFI 100 Movies list, this movie left me and Brian laughing! I tried to rent this at my local Family Video store, but it was checked out every time I looked. Now I know why.
The movie was lighthearted and gave me belly laughs at times. At every turn, you could see how this movie led the way for others to create such characters as Mrs. Doubtfire and definitely Ginger and Mr. Howell, the millionaire from Guilligan's Island...classics from my earlier years. I think the funniest scene in the whole thing is where the character played by Jack Lemmon begins to forget he's not really a woman, and starts talking about his engagement to the millionaire. Hilarious!
Marilyn Monroe won an Oscar for her performance of her "dumb blond" routine. I have to say I've not really watched a great deal of Marilyn, but she really did steal the show, playing the more serious of roles compared to her two co-stars. I kept thinking throughout the movie, boy, her hips look big...can that be, or is it just this wide-screen television? So, I looked it up. Yes, they were actually big. By some accounts she was a size 16, and by others a size 12. Neither of which are thin by today's super-thin beauties. So, I have to say that I kind of like that about her and this movie. Go curves!
As far as recommending this film...it gets a thumbs up for me. It would be a good one to start out with if you are looking to start your own top 100 movies review!
Number 22 on the AFI 100 Movies list, this movie left me and Brian laughing! I tried to rent this at my local Family Video store, but it was checked out every time I looked. Now I know why.
The movie was lighthearted and gave me belly laughs at times. At every turn, you could see how this movie led the way for others to create such characters as Mrs. Doubtfire and definitely Ginger and Mr. Howell, the millionaire from Guilligan's Island...classics from my earlier years. I think the funniest scene in the whole thing is where the character played by Jack Lemmon begins to forget he's not really a woman, and starts talking about his engagement to the millionaire. Hilarious!
Marilyn Monroe won an Oscar for her performance of her "dumb blond" routine. I have to say I've not really watched a great deal of Marilyn, but she really did steal the show, playing the more serious of roles compared to her two co-stars. I kept thinking throughout the movie, boy, her hips look big...can that be, or is it just this wide-screen television? So, I looked it up. Yes, they were actually big. By some accounts she was a size 16, and by others a size 12. Neither of which are thin by today's super-thin beauties. So, I have to say that I kind of like that about her and this movie. Go curves!
As far as recommending this film...it gets a thumbs up for me. It would be a good one to start out with if you are looking to start your own top 100 movies review!
Best movie of all time is not top of my list
Movie Review #3: Citizen Kane, 1941
It's hard for me to imagine that as a self-proclaimed movie lover I had never watched the number one movie of all time! So, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this movie masterpiece, I decided it would be next on the list and watched it on TCM a few weeks ago. (yes, I know I should have written about it right away, but I'm slacking already in my project!)
Obviously, I had heard of the movie, however I had it in my head that the movie was set on a boat and involved some kind of mutiny! I guess that's what you get when you neglect to watch the best movie of all time. So, I read a little about the movie before watching it...I didn't want to keep thinking, "where's the boat" throughout.
I have always liked Orson Wells, and I was particularly interested to see how he would play this character. I was also interested to see how, for all the hype, the movie would stand up to it's celebrated record as number one. So, I do want to share that I had a bit of a bias going into the film, and for what it's worth, I thought it was well shot, well written, and well acted, but left me feeling a bit dark and depressed. The word that comes to mind after seeing this film is wasteful, which may have been the writer/director's intent.
Just as those who have taken the time to rate and rank the AFI 100 Years 100 Movies list, I think that I may need to take another look at this film so that I might see what they have in it. For me, I weight my movie rankings heavily on the experience and feeling the movie leaves me with. This one left me feeling sad and empty.
I do recommend that if you haven't watched the film, that you do. Decided for yourself if it is the greatest of all time.
It's hard for me to imagine that as a self-proclaimed movie lover I had never watched the number one movie of all time! So, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this movie masterpiece, I decided it would be next on the list and watched it on TCM a few weeks ago. (yes, I know I should have written about it right away, but I'm slacking already in my project!)
Obviously, I had heard of the movie, however I had it in my head that the movie was set on a boat and involved some kind of mutiny! I guess that's what you get when you neglect to watch the best movie of all time. So, I read a little about the movie before watching it...I didn't want to keep thinking, "where's the boat" throughout.
I have always liked Orson Wells, and I was particularly interested to see how he would play this character. I was also interested to see how, for all the hype, the movie would stand up to it's celebrated record as number one. So, I do want to share that I had a bit of a bias going into the film, and for what it's worth, I thought it was well shot, well written, and well acted, but left me feeling a bit dark and depressed. The word that comes to mind after seeing this film is wasteful, which may have been the writer/director's intent.
Just as those who have taken the time to rate and rank the AFI 100 Years 100 Movies list, I think that I may need to take another look at this film so that I might see what they have in it. For me, I weight my movie rankings heavily on the experience and feeling the movie leaves me with. This one left me feeling sad and empty.
I do recommend that if you haven't watched the film, that you do. Decided for yourself if it is the greatest of all time.
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