Rear Window

I’m not going to review this properly, because I think it’s pointless. It’s Rear Window. It’s an iconic piece by an iconic director. It’s elite level Hitch, and it has its reputation for a reason. Millions of film critics ain’t wrong here. So, instead of an in depth review, I’d like to just list some other things I loved about the movie. Littler things. Moments or elements that brought me joy. Jimmy Stewart being in two iconic Hitch movies, and in both of them, playing against his nice guy image. He’s not a manic lunatic like the last 30 or so of Vertigo. No, here, he’s just a selfish, immature jerk who has convinced himself that his virtually flawless girlfriend is too perfect. He is abrasive and caustic and blunt, and it is stunning and hilarious to watch Jimmy Stewart be this guy. And to do it to GRACE FRIGGIN KELLY of all women. Her character, Lisa, is doting, thoughtful, intelligent, supportive, sweet, and, did I mention it’s GRACE KELLY?!? The woman could roll around in a pig sty wearing a burlap sack and she’s still one of the most head-turningly, heart-stoppingly, breathtakingly gorgeous women to EVER walk the planet. My wife was sitting here going “well, if he won’t marry her, I will”. And, oh yeah, maybe this is a hot take? Best Hitchcock Blonde. She carried the otherwise decent Dial M For Murder, is a ball of sunshine and fun here, and is simply magical in To Catch A Thief. Got a chuckle out of the moment when she comes to stay the night to help with the stakeout, and her seductive bed wear has more total fabric than what she was wearing before changing. And to top it off, Kelly plus Stewart … Hitch’s best leading lady and the guy who would go on to be the lead in Hitch’s undisputed masterpiece. An all-star dream pairing. Lisa being bad ass and climbing up a fire escape and across the outside of a building, through a window, in high heels and a pretty summer dress. My crush cannot be any bigger. Stella, Jeff’s nurse and physical therapist, basically being a time-displaced 21st century true crime fan. She doesn’t bother delicately insinuate things like decapitation and dismemberment and blood splatter. She SAYS it, and it throws everybody off, and she just has this expression of “what, we were all thinking it”. Miss Torso, the ballet dancer across the street. She seems to live for three things: eating, dancing in her underwear, and group sex. And Hitch REALLY pushes the envelope of the Hayes Code with her. The almost total lack of a score, instead using music coming from apartments and natural sound of the area is a stroke of genius. The unhinged rant over the dead dog, and how when when the owner finally goes back into her apartment, everybody in the area who came out to watch goes back in theirs like nothing happened. A dinner party just resumes like someone hit unpause. Okay, that’s enough gushing. It’s a freaking great film. Go see it. Now.