Psycho

It's time for another Alfred Hitchcock picture. Psycho, is probably one of the mod influential pictures of the twentieth century. t's impact on the thriller and horror genre is to this day still echoing. everything from it's story structure and cinematic techniques have influenced  have been emulated by over films from that day foreword.  Hitchcock's Masterpiece is intense, chilling and knows exactly how to be scary without have shock scares involved with it. 

The story begins with a young woman on the run from the law after she has recently embezzled some money. she finds herself one night, on the door step of the Bates Motel where she meets the Hotel's manager, Norman Bates. Norman Bates is a social recluse who has a very strange obsession with his mentally ill mother. The woman and Norman have dinner together where it increasingly becomes clear that Norman is attracted to her. but soon allows her to return to her hotel room.  Later that night as she takes a shower the vicious mother of Norman arrives and brutally murders her. weeks later the hunt is on for the deceased woman as her family and friends close in on the Bates Motel who knows what will happen when Norman and his mother are pushed into a corner. 

What makes the film work so well is its constant feeling of urgency. The film itself does not play out like your average horror film in that, there isn't constant action. in fact the first twenty minutes of the film plays out more like a crime drama than it does a horror film. But what really makes the film work the audience's complete lack of security. Halfway through the film our female lead is killed off. Audiences didn't know what to do with themselves the fact that a character who is designed to act as a vessel for the audience is dead leave us with a sense of abandon as if there is no security, which brings the film to an even more intense level.  the use of music also brings our a sense of urgency in the film that great theme song which just emulates the stabbing of  knife just feels like you're getting jabbed at. it make you uncomfortable and  a little on edge. The way this film is shot also brings up the urgency i always recall the editing style keeping me invested. there's a scene immediately following the th first murder where we just see Norman meticulously disposing of the body. it runs for nearly five minutes with no dialogue. and it's probably one of the most intense scenes of the film. You almost find yourself rooting for him in a sick way because because for a brief moment everything is against him in the film.

I always found the story behind how this film was marketed almost more interesting than the film itself. Where an ordinary director would have given in to the demand soy the studio in order to please the sensors and the corporate big wigs; Hancock used his own intelligence and negotiation abilities to not only get the film make but to get everything that he wanted. The drama behind this film is legendary. as the film was the first time a flushing toilet was shown on screen. Yeah, that was a big deal to the censors at the time. The over all sexual tone of the film was under fire as well not to mention a certain character possibly being a cross dresser. Hitchcock's  marketing of the film was ingenious. first off he bought up every copy of the novelization so that the ending would not be spoiled and then ensured that if patterns showed up late to any theater featuring the film, that they would not be aloud in. Hitchcock firmly believed the film's impact relied on the twists it offered and he was right. his marketing made the film an enormous success and to this day we're still talking about it. 

All in all I find this film to be a wonder to watch. It's the kind of film that any individual interested in becoming a film maker should watch, as it pretty much lays out all the mechanics of what a good film is and how it should be shot.  I really don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it because frankly it's worth  the surprise.  Psycho as a whole is a simple film with a very complexed villain that i firmly believe will make any viewer gasp. 

Star Wars

This is going to be a very special article for me. You see, the original Star Wars is by far my ALL TIME FAVORITE movie. There have been a total of three movies that have affected my life in such a way that i can't imagine  what I'd be without seeing them. The other two are The Godfather, and Rocky, but this one, this little ditty, this was the one that when I saw it for the first time it changed EVERYTHING. This is the movie that made me fall in love with cinema, that made me fall in love with writing, with mythology and storytelling, with philosophy. This movie changed my life when I saw it. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen it because to be honest I've seen it so much that i can watch it with my eyes closed. So if you don't mind l'd like to take you on a trip to "a galaxy far far away" to find out what makes Star Wars so great.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, the Galactic Empire is amidst civil war with a band of rebels bound to liberate the galaxy of the Emperor. Among these Rebels are two robots named R2-D2 and C-3PO who have been instructed by their Princess Leia to deliver an important disk featuring data on how to destroy a new secret weapon the Empire is developing. The duo escape just as the imperial general Darth Vader has boarded their ship. After crash landing onto a desert planet the robots find themselves in the ownership of young Luke Skywalker, a farm boy with dreams in the stars. He helps them find a man who may be able to help them named Ben Kenobi, only to learn that Ben has been watching over Luke all his life and now must help him and the robots in their cause against the empire like his father once did. Along the way, Luke will meet many strange and colorful characters as he travels through space finding an adventure far greater than he imagined, and a destiny he must fulfill. 

I'm going to get right to the point and say it; Star Wars is the greatest story ever told. Now before you roll your eyes at me, hear me through. I believe it is the greatest story because underneath all the lasers and beeps, and Chewbacca roars is the raw backbone of every story ever told. You see, when George Lucas wrote Star Wars he based it off of something called the monomyth: a concept created by anthropologist Joseph Campbell. It revealed that a majority of the world's stories whether they be theological, folkloric, or for entertainment purposes; all of them followed a specific series of steps which Campbell deem the "monomyth." It was from this template of human storytelling that Lucas was able to create the raw structure of Star Wars. Which ultimately is what Star Wars is; it's a study into the mechanics of our own storytelling. and when you really sit down and observe the elements thrown into star wars you can see that the entire thing is one big amalgamation of our mythologies, our folklore, and even our own history. Take one look at the colors and demeanor of the Empire and tell me you don't think of the Nazis. A young boy given a mythical sword by a bearded man in a cloak; just the basic description of the Arthurian legend. Men in armor saving a princess from a layer guarded by a evil black knight?  Sounds like a tale of Chivalry if you ask me. They go on from there. Everything about this film is based in some way on the stories we tell. That's why I love it. Luke is our young hopeful arthurian hero, Kenobi is our wizard,  Leia is the princess, R2 and 3PO are likes companions, and Han solo is the Swash Buckler. Everything about this film is based in our mythological history and maybe that's why this film is so beloved. It caters to our basic instincts of what a good story is and what makes a story work. 

The characters of Stars Wars almost don't seem worth even mentioning. We all know who they are, you can pretty much just look at any picture of Darth Vader and know who he is.  Luke is probably the most forgettable character in the film, but only because everyone else is so interesting in comparison. Obi-Wan is a great mentor type character. Carrie Fisher plays a really strong female character, considering she's in the damsel in distress role for the first half of the movie. Han Solo is just, well he's Han Solo, who the hell doesn't love Han Solo am I right… Han Solo. C-3PO is a character I never thought much of until i got to sit and watch it with someone who never saw star wars before she thought he was hilarious in a melancholy sort of way and it really made sense to me how this depressed butler character fits into everything. R2-D2 is the all time great side kick. He's the Maggie Simpson of Star Wars. Always silent but full of Attitude, R2- D2 is one of my all time favorites. But if we're going to talk about this movie, there is only one character we need concern ourselves with. One character who this movie could not be complete without. One character that Hollywood has constantly been trying to live up to since. Who is this character? None other than…

This Guy!

Dude! Darth Vader is the shit! The all time greatest bad guy ever, Vader just owns the camera when he's on screen everything is done with such confidence and certainty you can't help but fear this guy.  George Luca based his look on the concept of the evil knight, but wired ancient military armor into the mix as well. What makes Vader such a powerful character is the complete and utter lack of humanity built into his design. All black with an emotionless mask combined with the heavy artificial breathing there is nothing human about this guy which just helps make him more of a monster. 

So yeah, lets get to what everyone really likes about this movie: The action. The late 1970's was pretty much owned by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, who together made the three films that forever changed Hollywood. These films were Jaws, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. And what was it these three films did? They pioneered the summer block buster. Because of their ability to reach out to a massive audience through action adventure while still holding an over all family feel. Spielberg and Lucas pretty much turned the summer into the most desired slot for film companies to release their products, and it's easy to see why. When Star Wars really gets going, which is literally within the first minute,  you feel more like you're involved in a roller coaster ride. The action is fun and the characters involvement is always enjoyable. For most of the film I feel a first timer would be on the edge of their seat as the action sequences are some of the best in the industry and have been emulated by others ever since. I think the best way to describe the action of this movie is to compare it to the first time I ever saw The Avengers. I remember bouncing up and down in my seat as if I were a seven year old kid. Just everything this movie has to throw at you is gold. 

I decided when I did this blog that I would not only review the Film itself but also its sequels. But since only the first Star wars has made the AFI Top 100 I will only review them as a small paragraph each. but since I'm doing this, I wanted to also talk about the series as a whole. A lot of people have found it difficult to figure out an appropriate viewing order for these films. Some people will watch them in numerical order, while some will watch the original first and then the prequels, and then most will just pretend the prequels never happened. I however have found a way to watch these films that not only makes sense but also makes the prequels more enjoyable I feel. Let me show you what i mean as review the movies in my viewing order.

So after Star Wars, came Empire Strikes back, which many consider to be the greatest of the Star Wars films. And I don't know. While I admit it is a masterpiece I don't quite think it's the best. I hold the first film to that standard. The film is rather slow compared to the first one, focusing more on Luke's attempts to become a Jedi Knight, while Han and Leia run from the Empire for 90 minutes. This isn't to say it's a bad movie by any means. The drama is fantastic, the character development takes the archetypical characters we were introduced to in the first one and makes them way more three dimensional and over all it's a great look into the inner struggle we all have with our darker urges. If ever there was a reason to see this movie, one scene in particular makes the whole thing worth while: The revelation at the end. You want to talk about famous last words, Darth Vader's revelation to Luke about his father at the end of the film is by far the most notorious and heart wrenching reveal in movie history. It blew people away in the theaters when they first saw it. Hell, even today it still shocks kids who haven't seen it. Take a moment to check out any video of some kid seeing that scene for the first time and you'll just see the terror on their faces as they realize the truth. It's just delightful.

This is where we switch gears for a moment. Instead of going right to return of the Jedi we're going to take a break and flash back to a time before the first film. The Phantom Menace, is considered by many to be a colossal disaster of a film. It was such a let down to many who saw. Some arguing that the acting was bad and the over all story itself. But we all know what everyone really hated.

This Guy!

Yeah Jar Jar Binks, the polar opposite of a beloved character in Star Wars terms. His Whacky antics, goofy voice, and over all presence just irked people when they saw him on the big screen. While I admit he is the worst character in the franchise, I never really thought much of him. He doesn't hold any real importance to the story line other than a quick scene towards the end of the film and he's pretty much easy to forget when he's not on screen. I guess when I was a kid, I was so enthralled with the idea of seeing a new Star War movie, I became apologetic to all the flaws because i really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was fun, I thought it was action packed, I loved the pod race scene. I get why the older fans hated it but I think Lucas was trying to reel in a younger audience who hadn't been exposed to the Star Wars yet.  Hell, I even enjoyed Luke's father: Anakin, played here by a child. Yeah, he's a bad actor but I kinda enjoyed the way he was written. Despite his innocence, you can tell there's a lot of emotion behind him which many characters say will be a major problem for him later on. Maybe not the best but it wasn't the nightmare that people say it was I'll save that title for …

for all the flack that Episode 1 received, I feel like Attack of the Clones deserved it more. This movie is just boring. I get what they were trying to do by making it formulaically like Empire Strikes Back. But what we get is a very drawn out conspiracy/ love story. On one side we have a young Obi-Wan trying to uncover the secrets of a secret army being built and its possible connection to a rebel confederacy. All the while, Anakin is pining over his childhood love. I think what makes it worse is that there really is a lot of important plot development in this film. So much so in fact that you almost have to watch it to understand certain things. It's an okay movie by film standards but it's definitely the worst of the Star Wars films. Which brings me to one of the best...

AWE YEAH! This is the star wars film we've all been waiting for. The one that answers all the questions, that brings us full circle. This is how the prequels should have been all along. There is so much I loved about this movie that I don't even know where to start. Aesthetically it's the most loyal to the original film but what aces it so perfectly is the greek tragedy feel of the whole piece. Anakin's struggle with his inner demons comes full force as he tries to save the ones he loves, only to ultimately lose himself. The reveal at the end of the film, while not shocking is definitely a crowd pleasing moment " noooooo!" aside. But man does this film hit home. The characters were great. The story is great. The look of the film itself is great. It's just an excellent piece and definitely helps lead up to the final installment perfectly. 

So here we are at the end of the road: Return of the Jedi , the final film in the franchise. Set two years after the events of Empire Strikes Back, Jedi follows Luke Skywalker as he must feel with the cataclysmic revelation of the previous film, and finally put an end to the Emperor's reign once and for all. The film is just one part of the greatness that is the original Star Wars Trilogy, and man does it deliver. Where Empire made these characters three dimensional, Jedi took those dimensions and brought them full circle. Always a good one, Jedi is the perfect conclusion to a perfect franchise.

I want to take a moment to talk about this movie from a personal perspective. I firmly believe that every person has a movie that strikes a certain chord with them. I think if you're lucky you'll find a piece from every single medium of art that will resonate some sort of personal reaction from you.  For me Star Wars was something a lot more than just a film about mythology and and big laser battles and sword fights. for me Star Wars' meaning to me was condensed into a single perfect scene.

Everything about this movie, everything I believed in was personified in a single glorious moment. A wide eyed kid staring off into the great mysterious unknown, dreaming of something more, something bigger than himself and everyone around him; constantly dreaming. To me, thats what Star Wars is all about. It's about that primal urge we all have to break free of our surroundings and to become a part of a great and wild adventure beyond our wildest dreams. In my life I'm grateful that  had the guts to pursue my dreams. Partly because of Star Wars I am who I am and I'll never forget the impact this movie had on my life. 

The Searchers

The Searchers is a very unique film. first off it's the first western on this list but it also happens to provide a very unique form of commentary. as it represents not just the social view points of the time but more so the social view points of the era in which it was made. It's a fascinating study of racism and hatred, and how that can force a human being to rationalize certain atrocities. i'd tell you more but lets get onto the plot first.

Our story begins in 1868, Texas where Civil War vet Ethan ( played here by John Wayne) has finally returned home from the war. he is greeted by his brothers family who eagerly welcome him with open arms. One day he is recruited by the town's reverend to go and retrieve  some stolen live stock; but while he's gone a tribe of Comanche Indians attack his brother's settlement and kill all of them save for the youngest daughter, Debbie,  whom Ethan had taken a shining to. With vengeance on his mind, Ethan recruits the help of several men close to the family to go out and retrieve Debbie, and avenge the murder of his family. 

I always find films that use cookie cutter plots and then try them into masterpieces. it just goes to show you that cliche's when used properly can be used to good affect. What I mean by this is that The Searchers follows the basic story of a man who starts out cruel or prejudice and then ultimately learns to love. While this a story that has been done to death, but what makes the film so interesting is without a doubt its subject matter. Ethan is a racist. Early in the film it becomes quite clear that his utter disdain for the Native American population. But we come to realize that his prejudice is not just ignorance, but also a blind hatred. At one point in the film Ethan shoots the corps of a comanche in the eyes so that he can never reach his paradise, showing that his hatred is so intense he will not grant his enemies peaceful win the afterlife. Ethan's prejudice appears justified with the death of his family. There is definitely some question into the ethics of this film as the moral of racism is quite blurry, as it's not just the white characters that are prejudice as we see the Comanche are just as prejudice and hateful  as Ethan. One scene in particular shows a Comanche remarking that the death of his two sons is reason enough to scalp the white man. What we now have is not a film just about racism but about the destructive nature it has. The Comanche chief has lost his his family to the white man, Ethan lost his to the Comanche's, and now Ethan is willing to seek vengeance against the Comanche's; an endless circle held together by hate.

As far as cinematography goes the film is alright. the film isn't particularly stylized, and the make up can be laughable at certain points, especially when it comes the the mixed race boy who follow Ethan where ever he goes. He's supposed to look like a a half Comanche half european male, but instead he come soft looking like Tan Mom. Just look at it, this is borderline blackface! I find it so odd that a film the deals with Racism on such an interesting level would choose to portray a race in such a way as this. 

So lets talk about the centerpiece of this movie, John Wayne. Before Clint Eastwood, John Wayne was and to some extent still is the Face of Movie Westerns. the way he talks his stone face  his voice, the characters he'd portray all of these have exceeded that of just an actor and made him into an icon.  And this film is by far one of his yes roles. Ethan has is a man who has lived through a rough life. The Civil War is still a new memory in his mind and the weight of his own hatred is close to destroying not only himself but the ones he loves most.  With John Wayne you can  just tell he's a hard man who has is unmoved by anyone; this makes his reconciliation not just relieving but also surprising. I remember being convinced that the story would become tragedy by the end. as he frequently talks of his desire to kill his only nice because he has been brainwashed by the Indians, but instead we actually have a really sweet moment. That's where this film and the film's lead really come through and shows its heart. 

In the end, I don't really have a lot to say on this film. It's really one of those movies that you have to see in order to truly understand it's weight and significance on our society. Often sighted as the "Forgotten Classic". I feel this film absolutely deserves a look. as andy climactic as this article is it's only because I'm currently working on my next one and trust me it's going to be a big one so sit tight and if you have a chance check out The Searchers.

City Lights

Alright, This now the oldest film i have reviewed on this blog. City Lights is movie that comes from the fabled era often feared by the average film goer as "The Silent Film Era" typically these films were not completely silent as there was indeed musical accompaniment (even if it was live) as well as cued sound effects if necessary. In an era where our culture is so accustomed to digital music and sound based films or "talkies" as they used to be called, it is easy to see why silent films are so off putting to the modern audience. but man after watching a hand full of these films i have to say they are quite good and in many ways better than some of the content we see today, and the best of them all, belongs to Charlie Chaplin.  What makes this film and it's leading man so great? Lets dive in and find out. 

Our story begins with a tramp( played here by Charlie Chaplin, as we follow him through his daily life on the city streets. One day he comes across a blind flower lady whom he immediately falls in love with her, but is too shy to say anything. That night he comes across a drunken millionaire who is attempting to commit suicide, with a little help The tramp is able to talk him out of it. and the two go out for  alight on the town. the following morning The Tramp gets a hold of the millionaires car and uses it to impress the blind flower girl, only to find out that she is on the verge of being evicted for late rent money. And so the Tramp sets out to raise the money necessary to not only save the flower girl but also to pay for a surgery that could cure her blindness. 

So what is it that makes the film such a special movie, that trumps many of our modern cinema.  well for one thing the delivery is spectacular. in a film where emotions and communication can not be made verbal, it becomes even more necessary to express those feelings physically. These characters who don't even happen to names; they are simply archetypes int his film. what makes them so unique and so compelling is the delivery of the actors. when ever Chaplin is on screen he makes this seemingly dim whited character so powerful and so lovable you can't help but care about him in this film. the blind girl her part so well that we can se why the Tramp goes to her as this angelic icon; even the suicidal millionaire plays the character run such a way that we find him funny rather than just a really depressing character. the action of a silent film is what makes it good or bad, which brings me to. 

The comedy in this film is top notch. Not only is it great, but it also holds up significantly well. It's not going to be the rolling on the floor cackling type of humor but it will make you smile and chuckle quite a bit. the films comedy comes from its charm, the characters are what makes the comedy great, they way in which these characters interact with each other while also interacting with the environment around them is also great. some of the funniest stuff by far can be found between the millionaire and the tramp. I just loved how pathetic the millionaire was, the contrast between the two is so absurd and so different that it makes for great  physical comedy, especially when you throw severe  drunkenness into the mix. the other great scene is the boxing scene in which the tramp attempts to enter a fixed boxing match for money only to find his opponent has been replaced. and weirdly the Tramps choice to unsuccessfully flirt with the other boxer is by far the strangest and most hilarious scene I've seen in movie. it's just so strange and so out of left field you can't help but crack up at it. 

So I've been narrowing it down to this  what truly makes the film special. Charlie Chaplin himself. Considered by many to be the greatest comedic actor of al time, Chaplin's performance as the Tramp has emerged in several movies but it is in City Lights that i have truly loved this character. Chaplin had a profound way of bringing a lot of heart into a character that is meant to be mostly schtick.  But the man was so well talented at making you fall in love with his characters. the way in which the Tramp is so willing to go out of his way for the people he barely knows makes him so beyond normal and yet so lovable. a scene in particular that comes to mind is when the tramp is about to go to prison. he goes over to see the blind girl so that he can give her the money he earned for her. we see this beautiful moment where she asks if she'll see him again,  his reaction to the way he looks at her, his inner monologue. it's just so beautiful and tragic, two things id never expect to say about a comedy!

And thats City Lights. It's such a shame that people are so turn doff by silent films because based not he ones I have seen, they're more than excellent. besides City Lights, films such as Buster Keaton's The General, Nosforatu, and Metropolis are great films. there is something about the steps silent films must take in order to convey their message. it's an incredible exercise in communication, as well as acting. as a whole City Lights is a charming piece of American cinema. and a must see for anyone willing to give the old way of filming a chance. 

The Wizard of OZ

The Wizard of Oz is a special kind of film. it's the one film that every american  not only knows but can recite by chart. The all around american classic if there ever was one. we all love it we all watch every year when it shows up on TBS; don't lie you know you do! it's just an the epic feel good movie. the imagery to the acting to the humor. it's all solid and extremely pleasant. so what is it that makes the the most beloved film to grace pop culture so good lets find out. 

Do i really need to explain the plot of this film? Dorothy Gale is a small town girl living in Kansas during the Dust Bowl. She yearns to be somewhere better than where she is and sets out to run away. One day a twister strikes her farm and before she can make it into the storm cellar her entire house whisks her and her dog Toto off to a mysterious land know as Oz there she discover by means of a very beautiful which named Glinda that she has killed the Wicked witch of the East and inherited her magic ruby slippers, bout that the Wicked Witch of the West is out for revenge now. Determined to get home Dorothy is told to find the Wizard, who is the only one who can help. along the way she encounters a scarecrow in search of a Brain, a Tin Man in search of a heart, and a Cowardly Lion in search of courage. The four friends must ban together to find the wizard before the Wicked Witch gets to them first, and hopefully Dorothy will find her way back home. 

The story is so simple and straight to the point you really can't help but love this movie. This is a film where the hero's journey is shown in it's rawest form. Dorothy is our hero, Glinda is the wise figure that put's Dorothy on the path, and the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lin are her companions. watching it again for what must be the one millionth time I find my self so surprised at how fresh the film still appears to be and how i still enjoy it as i it were the first time i was watching it. It genuinely is an excellent film.

If we are going to discuss The Wizard of Oz it is absolutely important to discuss the use of color in this film. Often sighted as the first film to use the perfected system of Technicolor, the Wizard of Oz stunned audiences with its big reveal. the first part of the film is completely in black and white, it's not until the second act after Dorothy arrives in oz that we see the gorgeous vivid color for the first time in a major motion picture. It takes my breath away every time I see it, as if it were the first time i ha seen color for the first time. I particularly love the way The Wicked Witch's skin contrasts so heavily from the rest of the film it's such a harm green and it really brings out the already nastiness of the character. 

The acting is wonderful in this film. The Late Judy Garland, plays the role of Dorothy Gale and is just lovely on the screen everything about her portrayal has become so iconic that it's hard to imagine anyone else portraying the character any other way. In fact, that goes for pretty much the entire cast, i can't imagine anyone being replaced by another actor. by far my favorite has to go to Margaret Hamilton with there portrayal of The Wicked Witch. she is just in love with this role and every second, every bit of dialogue ever stag direction is filled with so much energy and passion that (once again) you can't help but imagine anyone else playing this character. If i had to think of a performance that was weak it would have to be the Wizard himself; after the big reveal i found the character to be rather boring and just kinda there. yeah i'm aware that's supposed to be the point. but there's a difference between playing a character that is lame and being lame, and the entire time I just felt as if this character wasn't fully fleshed out. But when it really comes down to it these characters can't be imagined any other way. i remember watching Return to Oz and the previews for Dorothy of OZ,  thinking that no, thats not what the Scarecrow looks like! Thats not how the Cowardly Lion is supposed to sound like. the fault in this imply originate sin how big an impact The Wizard of Oz had on popular culture. It was so beloved, that it made it nearly impossible to see the film in any other way.

So yeah this is a musical so it makes sense to talk about the music right? Well, what is there to say except that we've all heard the music and we all know every song by heart or at the least are able to hum every song. the music is so good and so excellent that they have expanded beyond the popularity of the film itself being included in commercials and parodied more times than can be accounted for. short and simple the music is one of the best parts of this film. 

That's pretty much it. The Wizard of Oz is something more than just a movie, it's a centerpiece of popular culture. it's a movie that connects us all because we all love it so dearly. iv never known people to debate not he merit and quality of this movie, and I'm sure they exist but I've never seen them. in truth films especially the ones that we love, connects all in way that makes cinema so beautiful. friendships and even relationships can be created over the love of film. some of the best conversations I've ever had started because of a discussion of a certain movie. and that's exactly where Wizard of Oz unites us all it is the one film that we all agree on that we all take a moment to enjoy together revery year and for me that's very special .

Vertigo

okay back on track. Vertigo is a very special kind of movie. It is the only film to ever beat Citizen Kane on a top 100 list, and it is a film directed by the one the only Alfred Hitchcock.

Considered by many to be the greatest Cinematic director of all time, Alfred Hitchcock made a living out of bringing his audience to the edge of their seats. there was a period in time where Hitchcock wasn't just well known, he was a house hold name. from his films to a successful television show Hitchcock became known as the "Master of Suspense and for good reason. The Man Who Knew Too Much, North by Northwest,  The Birds, PSYCHO;  Hitchcock knew how to just push these things out at a very fast rate, making him one of the first serial directors as well. but what made him so incredible was his approach to film. He always saw a films success to be relied solely on the audience's concern for what was going on. He was always willing to push the boundaries in what most directors were afraid of because they were bound by the studio system and censors. His desire to always make the audience apart of the film brought him to create new cinematic and marketing techniques which made the film experience even better. That aside, let's get to the movie that has now come to pass Vertigo.

Our story begins with San Francisco detective John "Scottie" Ferguson. He's suffering from a severe case of acrophobia following an incident in which he lost a fellow police officer on the city rooftops. Now a retired man, Scottie is urged to take a private case in order to help treat his illness. Enter Gavin Ester, a man who suspects his wife, Madeleine has been possessed. Scottie follows his wife around town discovering that she makes frequent trips to a grave and to a painting of a woman who looks identical to Gavin's wife. One day he finds himself urged to interfere when she attempts to commit suicide. Now invalid, the two form a romantic relationship all the while attempting to solve the mystery of her possession. One evening while taking a ride to see an old convent Madeleine commits suicide and once again Scottie is unable to cope. He obsesses over her and the mystery around her, until one day he finds a women who looks and sound exactly like her. Obsessed with the woman, he continues to make her like madeleine in hopes of freeing himself from his guilt and solving the mystery once and forever. 

It was once said, that anyone who wished to go to film school could just watch a Hitchcock movie and get the exact same education; and after watching Vertigo that's a pretty accurate statement. everything about this movie is precise and too the point there is no such thing as filler in these movies. Hitchcock was a man who knew exactly what he wanted and how to execute it. Every shot, every scene, every piece of dialogue is present for it's exact purpose; to either establish plot or to push it foreword. Films like this are like clock work. Everything in the film is moving towards something, nothing is unnecessary and that's what makes a Hitchcock movie so great, nothing is unnecessary. Take into consideration a scene involving Scottie and his ex fiancé. All the dialogue in this scene is used to establish who these people are, where they came from, and what they hope to achieve. By the end of the scene we know that scotty suffer acrophobia, that he is retired, and that he is troubled with love. We learn that the fiancé is an intellectual and that she knows Scottie better than he knows himself. Hell, we even know the dynamic between these two characters. All the necessary back story is established within the first scene and its done in a way that does not feel forced. That's good filmmaking. 

The entire look of the film is great to. There is always some sort of trigger, some visual synonym that relates to what's going on in the scene. We see Scottie and the fiancé standing around a room of Brazier prototypes as we understand the sexual tension between the two. We see the Golden Gate Bridge during Madeleine's First attempt at suicide; for anyone who doesn't know, the bridge is notorious for it's high suicide rate. Then there's the obvious spiral which is the core symbol of the film, as it reflects Scottie's own plunge into insanity.

This also happens to be a film in which Hitchcock invented a few new cinematic techniques. The most famous of these techniques is known as the Dolly Zoom.  The effect is achieved by zooming a zoom lens  while the camera moves towards or away from the subject in such a way as to keep the subject the same size in the frame throughout. What results is an affect that resembles the feeling of vertigo. this shot is typically used from Scottie's point of view to signify his realization of being at a high altitude. The affect is really cool and when you see it being done in action you'll realize you've seen it countless times before. 

The overall mystery of the story is a good one. I'd be lying if I said I figured it out, because it is a pretty good one. And maybe that's the point. Vertigo is a movie that keeps you guessing to the very end. For the first half of the movie I couldn't tell if this was a psychological thriller or a paranormal movie about possession, and then once you start to get a vague idea of what's going on, boom Madeleine dies, and then we have to deal with this whole possible doppleganger plot. Did any of that sound confusing? if so, then good because it is but not at all in a bad way. That's the genius of Hitchcock. He throws all this stuff at you to keep you guessing but at the same time, he's always keeping it organized so that you never lose interest. His talent really shines through.

I guess I'm going to have to talk about the negative now huh? Well i wouldn't say theres a real negative about this film but just a significant difference to the modern definition of "suspense." Today, action movies like Taken, and Die Hard are considered suspense films. Hitchcock movies were always a little bit more subtle. It was about what was waiting for you around the corner that was suspenseful. Hitchcock knew this, which is why he really relied on the use of developmental scenes to make the film suspenseful. He realized that by dragging the film a little bit you make the audience so uncomfortable; that they will begin to question when or where the big reveal will be or even if it will be revealed. This created a genuine sense of suspense which is of course what Hitchcock was the master of. 

And that's Vertigo: a great, made by one of the greats. Although not the best of Hitchcock's films, (we'll get to Psycho a little later) it's still a fantastic film, as are most Hitchcock films. Definitely worth a look if you like a good mystery. Oh on a side note, Alfred Hitchcock appeared in every single one of his films in extremely small background cameos. There's a bit of a game involving trying to find him. that's  right Hitchcock was the M. Night Shyamalan before there was one, except Hitchcock never peaked too early in his career and lost sight of where he excelled.