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horridhendy
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Under Capricorn (1949)
One of the the most boring experiences of my life.
I am a huge Hitchcock fan but holy sh*t, this is one of the most tedious, boring and dull movies I have ever seen.
I am trying to work my way through Hitchcock's oeuvre so I stuck with this film but only out of what felt like necessity. I checked the movie run-time at an hour and a half to go, then an hour and ten minutes, then an hour, then 47 minutes, then 39 minutes then 28 minutes (not long now) then 22 minutes (christ, has it only been six minutes) then 19 minutes (Ugh, when will it be over) then 12 minutes (finally, it's almost done), then 8 minutes...then it was over and I felt free, relieved and happy.
Thank god it's over, it's over and I never have to watch it again.
It was PAINFUL.
Vertigo (1958)
I'm astounded that it lived up to its hype, but it fully did.
I am currently trying to work my way through all of Hitchcock's films. I am currently up to having seen 19 of them. Vertigo was the 19th. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get round to seeing one of the most lauded Hitchcock films but I think it was because it was so hyped and people said that it was edgy and artistic that I thought it was pretentious bullshit and didn't really fancy it.
I went into the film thinking it was going to be good but that it was over-hyped and there was almost no way that it could live up to my expectations. I was mistaken. This film is a masterpiece and I absolutely loved it.
Now, I'm not going to wax lyrical about the camera techniques or anything pretentious like that because that's just not what matters to me in a film. I rate films based on how captivating or enjoyable they are. I would give this one 10/10 on both. I have noticed that the reviews that "hate" this film complain about people who like it being pretentious and deluded but I noticed that they cannot offer a reason why the film itself is not good. They just criticise the fans of this film. That's where I reckon they are trying to be edge-lords and rebel against the acclaim this movie has received.
I'm a firm believer in not judging a film by its fans. Perhaps the fans of this film are pretentious but that doesn't take away from this exceptional film itself.
Some people who like with pretentiously wax lyrical about cinematic techniques and others will talk about the amazing plot, the dialogue, the tension and the fantastic performances. I'm the latter. I see a great film and I rate it as such.
Rope (1948)
A one-time wonder but oh boy, what a wonder!
This really is an exceptional film. The atmosphere and mood of the setting are expertly established and there is a real sense of foreboding in the slow build of the tension. I think the scene where the conversation with all the speculation of the crime is off-camera while it focuses on the maid clearing away the chest of the candlestick and food platters was one of the most successful scenes I've seen on film.
You may therefore wonder why it is that I have only scored such a masterpiece an eight out of ten. Well, in terms of film-making I would say that it is one of Hitchcock's absolute finest works and thoroughly deserving of a ten but I didn't enjoy it enough to mark it at a ten - I enjoyed it, in its own way. I wouldn't watch it again. It was very clever, very well-done and I would seriously encourage anyone to watch this film. It deserved to be watched and I'm glad I watched it but I feel that now I've seen it, I no longer feel any desire to see it again.
Some films are a one-time wonder and for me, this is one of them.
No Man of Her Own (1950)
I know this sounds crazy but I think this might be the greatest movie ever made...
I apologise if this review seems excessive or like hyperbole but I think this is in my top 5 movies of ALL time. It is silly, melodramatic and not very believable (I mean, really - how many noirs are actually believable) but it is BRILLIANT, and here's why...
1. Barbara Stanwyck is a GODDESS. She is such a fantastic actor that she is able to carry this melodrama. If anyone else was playing her part, this film would not work. She has such a convincing way of delivering melodramatic plots/dialogue.
2. The tension and twists will have you on the edge of your seat. No, I do not mean this figuratively. I mean this in the most literal sense of the phrase. By the end of the movie, I had moved to the edge of the sofa, and was leaning forward. I almost stood up. It took me a few hours to calm down and I barely got to sleep that evening. I have NEVER had such a reaction to a movie.
I am fully aware that this is ridiculous to say that this might be the greatest movie of all time but I just was so captivated and drawn in. It just really got to me, I don't know why. I LOVE THIS FILM.
Stella Dallas (1937)
Heartbreaking Tale and Barbara Stanwyck is a GODDESS!
Barbara Stanwyck is just a GODDESS.
She carries this film wonderfully and it was nice to see her play against a 'femme fatale' type in some ways. Despite all the flaws of Stella, as a viewer I felt unshakeable sympathy for her character and I found the film captivating but bitterly sad. I found the daughter's character, Laurel to be a little insipid and rather saccharin, but it's a good plot device for the film. On the whole, I really enjoyed it and I cannot emphasise enough how fantastic Barbara Stanwyck's performance is. She well-deserved her Oscar nomination (...and perhaps the win, I forget who won that year...).
That said, it was rather upsetting and for that reason I would say it's a must-watch film but I might struggle to bring myself to watch it again.
The 39 Steps (1935)
A Wonderfully Thrilling Romp or A Messy, Inconsistent Farce...You choose.
There's two ratings I would give this movie. One is a 3/10 and the other is a 9/10 so I settled on 6/10 and here's why:
3/10-REVIEW: Oh dear lord, there are so many problems with this movie. SO MANY. I don't even know where to begin...When the female spy is killed, someone must have made it into the flat...how? OK, so let's assume they did get in, why didn't they make sure she was dead. Stabbed in the back... wasn't she sleeping? On her back? Holding a map? Why does this guy just allow her into his life with her reckless and dangerous problems? Why wouldn't they make sure she was dead so she didn't have time to give him the map. Why did the killer let her give him that clue? Why did the killer leave the flat without killing him? Only to then later try to kill him by waiting outside...BUT THEY CAN GET IN THE FLAT??? Why did she send him to Scotland? There was nothing but trouble up there? There was no-one to help him...only the guy who tried to kill him? Why did his female companion abandon her plans in Scotland? She travels to London with no care for her affairs? Why was she in Scotland anyway? Why did she choose to scream at certain moments when she was not able to get help but suddenly becomes mute when it would have been heard? WHAT? What are the 39 steps anyway? And what's the deal with this secret? I could go on and on....there are so many flaws in the plot, You have to take the BIGGEST PINCH OF SALT in the world to enjoy it. BUT...
9/10-REVIEW: If you can then it's a romp, there is witter and delightful banter. It has fast and exciting pacing and the parts are well-acted. It's full of twists and turns that keep you captivated and it has a nicely tied up end. I think the "farfetchedness" of the plot is a pure addition to the enjoyment.
My advice is to enjoy this movie at it's 9/10-review, take a HUGE pinch of salt, let the plot holes wash over you and go along for this ridiculous farcical ride. You'll get much more out of it that way. Bog yourself down with it's flaws and you'll become enraged.