Rope

“An immaculate murder. We've killed for the sake of danger and for the sake of killing. We're alive, truly and wonderfully alive.”There’s this thing, or rather this habit of mine, of going into movies completely and utterly blind. I implore you to do the same. And a movie such as this makes such good use of its unpredictability, its cold open genuinely reels you in hook, line, and sinker. You’re thrust into this world, and you have to accept that not everything will make sense. That you’re an intruder. That this is their world and you’re merely peering through the blinds in hopes of catching a glimpse. There’s this repetitive motif of perfect murders in Hitchcock’s films, and you’re aware that it is far from perfect and will fall apart—only a small part of you, curiously, hopes it doesn’t. Wonders if it’s possible. Hitchcock wonders as such too.  Attempting to justify murder with words like “art” and “superior” and “intellectual” is an idea I’ve really only seen this film execute perfectly. I think the reason why is because the film itself believes it wholeheartedly, that murder is indeed reserved for curious and superior individuals with a taste for the arts, and expects you to believe it too. Murder is conversational, accepted, encouraged if you possess the right kind of finesse. It’s only a crime if you’re ordinary, and a film like this demands you to believe it’s extraordinary. I know I keep harping on and on about dialogue, but I can’t get over its musicality in this film specifically. Every word flows like it’s meant to, witty and charming but naturally so. James Stewart is easily and definitely the highlight (though, I think he has that effect on every movie he’s in!) And the perspective switch!! So understated & clever!! And the reveal with David’s hat!! I quite literally gasped out loud at the initials carved into the hat, talk about a perfect reveal! And the tension and anticipation that follows you all towards the very end… one of my favorite Hitchcock movies I have to say. This is one of those rare instances where I genuinely thought a movie was perfect through and through. Definitely going straight into my top five (if only I could have both this movie & anatomy of a murder, notice the pattern? <3 I’ve also noticed a gargantuan amount of my favorite movies have gay subtext, I wonder why…)