Vertigo
(As of Watch) #3/50: Films I've Watched in 2023 Ranked
Watched as a part of the r/letterboxd Discord Film Raffle
Expected Stars: ★★★★ (Great)Given Stars: ★★★★★ (GOAT)
Hitchcock’s Vertigo is, and most likely will be, the most haunting love story ever told, no matter how many callous copies or pale imitations there may be.
In his visually intense, thriller of a Magnum Opus, Hitchcock not only expanded, but revolutionised the discipline of Filmmaking; this is what everyone seemed to believe, and as someone who had never watched it before today I shrugged it off as a mere myth, I shrugged Vertigo off as another overrated snooze fest from the 50s, yet I would not know how wrong I was until today.
This film changed me, it made me realise how much someone could do with so little words, it showed me truly why this is considered a classic and what I have been missing out on all the years of my life I had not watched this in, and I understand that I am blurting whatever comes to mind but I’m merely flabbergasted at how great this movie is, my breath is heavy and my heart is in my chest, and I feel a way I never have before, I can hear everything around me as if my mind has undergone a renovation, nay, a revolution, and I fear that I will never be able to see a movie in the same way again, and that is all thanks to the genius of Hitchcock and his work on Vertigo.
And I haven’t even talked about the absolute beautiful performance of Barbara Geddes as Midge. The way that she portrays the yearning for Scotty feels all too real, and the way that Hitchcock handles her is just amazing, you truly feel that in a sense Midge loves Scottie, and with Hitchcocks’ Directing and Burks’ Cinematography you truly feel and get to know and feel the character in the short time you get to see her, and the way she is so mistreated is encapsulating in a way, it feels so bitter, but so delicate at the same time and you feel as if you’ve been in her position before. You realise that she deserved so much better, and you feel her regret for cancelling the engagement.
This movie has changed me, in ways that even I myself do not realise yet, but I feel as if I must watch more classics, and stop being scared that they aren’t as good due to their age.
Thank you for reading, this has been life-changing, and I strongly believe that no matter what you think of old movies, or movies in general, you should watch this one.
Have a good night and keep yourself safe,
-Curtis Cooper