Rear Window

Such an impressive film. The set is probably my favourite ever. It is one of the cleanest shot films ever. Simple shots, simple camera movements but the use of framing with windows , reflections and lighting means the there is always something extra to look at in the shot, which builds mystery and tension.  The viewer is taking perspective of the protagonist, knowing what they know, seeing what they see and nothing more which is really how a mystery should be done. Jimmy Stewart and grace Kelly are perfectly cast, they fit the roles to a tee and whilst maybe not their best performances you really can’t imagine anyone else in it. It is so well written as well. The story flows perfectly, Hitchcock knows how to show not tell but also have some deep themes resonating in the background of the main story, with all the others characters as well, particularly amazing is the dog scene which is a great monologue that really gets at the films core. I also think the dialogue scenes between Stewart and Kelly are perfect, both in the writing, performances and the questions it really brings up. This is such a perfect film, and I think easy to consume for everyone so I wouldn’t be able to recommend it enough. It has depth but is also such a simple concept of a film. This is probably Hithcocks best, for me it’s right up there with vertigo, but it’s defientely his most impressive.