2018 Blind Spot Series: Rear Window + 2019 Preview!
What I knew going in: The basic plot as my millennial ass saw the loosely remade Disturbia when came out.
Photographer L.B Jeffries (James Stewart) is holed up in his apartment after breaking his leg on job. When he's not getting visits from his girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly) or his at home nurse, Stella (Thelma Ritter) he's spending his time spying on his neighbors. Then he becomes convinced one of them, Mr. Thorwald (Raymond Burr) has murdered his wife.
For some reason, I assumed this film would be kind of slow. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't and that I was immediately engaged throughout. I think this is my new favorite Hitchcock film, there wasn't a minute of it I didn't enjoy.
All the actors in this are good (and the ones we watch across the way are amusing) but Thelma Ritter was by far my favorite. Stella was awesome. I assumed she was going to disappear after she stopped by at the beginning and she didn't. I'm so glad she got to be in the final act as well. Stewart and Kelly had good chemistry as well, I especially loved the moment where Jeffries realizes how wrong he was about Lisa being the right woman for him. Lisa and Stella working as a team was another delight.
The only part of this film that didn't age well are the special effects and that's to be expected. That's always good for a chuckle.
Recommended: Yes
Grade: A+
Memorable Quote "That's abnormal." - Stella (Thelma Ritter)
2019 Blind Spot List
And here are the films I plan on watching next year for Ryan's creation, which is now managed by Sofia. Normally I stick with one movie per month, but I'm going to try to tackle the entire Godfather trilogy like I did the Three Colors series in 2017.
What do you think of my choices? Have you seen them? Let me know!
1) Network
2) Cinema Paradiso
3) In The Heat of the Night
4) Scenes from a Marriage
5) My Left Foot
6) Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
7) Eraserhead
8) Enter the Dragon
9) Kramer vs Kramer
10) The Godfather trilogy*
11) Judgement at Nuremberg*
12) Casablanca
Alternates: Suddenly, Last Summer (This was actually on my 2018 list but apparently Netflix has one DVD for the entire country because I've been on "very long wait" all year)
*Indicates that I have seen parts of the film, just not all in one sitting.
Rear Window is one of my favorites from Hitchcock as I'm glad you chose to close out the year with that one. Of the films in your 2019 Blind Spot list, the ones I haven't seen in their entirety are Network, In the Heat of the Night, My Left Foot, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Judgement at Nuremberg.
ReplyDeleteOf the alternates, I would suggest going to Criterion for Scenes from a Marriage as that's a film that I love. Suddenly, Last Summer I suggest going to Turner Classic Movies for that one. I wouldn't count on Netflix when it comes to old or obscure foreign films.
The only issue with cable is the editing. I want to see it all, and i feel like sometimes it gets cut up, but thanks for the suggestion. I always forgot about that. I tend to rely on Netflix, youtube, my library and when I'm feeling desperate...Vodlocker lol
DeleteI think I started Rear Window once and didn't make it all the way through. In fact...sames goes for Dusturbia oddly, enough.
ReplyDeleteVery, very solid list for 2019. Quite the mix, you know? I've only seen the first Godfather, which seems like something I shouldn't admit...on a movie website. *runs*
I've seen the majority of the first Godfather movie too but I always miss the beginning of it.
DeleteI love Jimmy Stewart who is my favourite actor and this is a film I just love. Grace Kelly’s was the epitome of sexual cool elegance but, I agree, Thelma Ritter was just the best. I love Casablanca which deserves all,the accolades. Judgement at Nuremberg is also excellent and so very sad. Judy Garland gave a great performance and look for William Shatner and Werner Klemperer, aka Col. Klink as a horrible Nazi. I love My Left Foot and am so happy Day Lewis won the Oscar for this role. Network is also quite good but I just never got into The Godfather series. I have to see some of the others still.
ReplyDeleteCasablanca has been a long time coming. That movie always looked so boring to me. Now to try it out. ol
DeleteAnything but boring! The intrigues, backstabbing, sex...it is so well written and delivered that I’m surprised some of it got by the censors. Some excellent quotes as well..especially between Claude Rains and Humphrey Bogart.
DeleteI hope I love it!
DeleteWell snap, I had no idea Disturbia was a remake of Rear Window! I really need to see the original...
ReplyDeleteFrom your 2019 picks I've only seen Casablanca which I honestly kind of hated, but I know I'm pretty much alone in that regard. I watched it Jenna whilst we were still doing Flick Chicks and she loved it so I hope you do too!
I hope so! I know that feeling though, I hated both Rebel Without a Cause and Akira from my Blind Spots, and those are well loved.
DeleteNice picks! Network is one of my all-time favorite movies. Great performances and writing, and even after thirty (?) years, I feel like it could come out today and still be relevant. I remember watching Kramer vs Kramer once, but can't remember it that well - woopsies! I don't think it's that memorable. It's weird to say that Judgment at Nuremberg is good considering what the subject matter is, but it is. Judy Garland is heartbreaking. Good luck with your Blindspot!
ReplyDeleteThe parts of Judgment I've seen were really compelling, I'm looking forward to it. Network I'm the most excited about, I think. I can't wait.
DeleteThank you! I need it with all the Godfather I'm about to watch.
So happy you loved Rear Window, and you have a great lineup for 2019. A Woman Under the Influence is one of my all-time favorites!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see it! I hope I Like it as much as you do.
DeleteI don't know how I missed that you watched this but I'm so glad to see you loved it!
ReplyDeleteIt's very close to being my favorite Hitchcock film-I have a real fondness for Saboteur which remains my favorite closely followed by this, Lifeboat and Strangers on a Train. I've watched it many times, it's one of those films I always stop on when I run across it no matter where it is in the film, including seeing it in the theatre twice on different reissues which added extra dimensions to the story-a fuller immersion in the film and audience reaction.
Jimmy Stewart is a perfect choice for Jeffries, especially at this point with his folksy likability mixed with the spiky edge that came to him postwar. Because of who he is you're not outraged that he's invading the neighbors privacy and he pulls you in with his determined certainty.
Grace Kelly is SO much better here than she was in the same year's Country Girl and it's a pity she received her Oscar nomination for that rather than this. I'll never think she should have won over Judy Garland's flat out brilliance in A Star is Born but it would have been a less bitter pill if it had come for this. Lisa plays to all her strengths as a performer and she makes the role memorable.
Speaking of nominations it's another puzzler that Academy darling Thelma Ritter wasn't tipped for this. She's brilliant every second she's on screen. Love the scene where she's nibbling away on the toast and talking about Thorwald cutting up his wife at the same time. But then Thelma Ritter was always masterful.
As great as they all are it's Hitchcock's tight control of the situations, knowing just how long to focus on each segment, that really drives the picture.
I've seen all but two of your picks, Scenes from a Marriage-which is on my list-and Eraserhead-which really is not.
There all exceptional films in their various ways, well maybe not Enter the Dragon though its reputation deserves a watch, but I can't say I loved them all. Network was incredibly prescient for its time but I found it ugly and off-putting, a view not shared by all.
My favorite out of your choices is Casablanca, but then for a classic movie lover like myself it hits all the sweet spots so mileage may vary. However I don't know anyone who doesn't like it.
I respect the skill and artistry of Judgement at Nuremberg and its flock of amazing performances-Judy, Monty Clift, Spencer Tracy, Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Schell and on and on-but it's a heavy very, very dark film about sorrow and emotional and physical destruction.
With how easily the Academy seemed to hand out nominations for so so performances back then, I'm surprised Ritter didn't get one either.
DeleteScenes from a Marriage is a last minute replacement. I had My Left Foot there, then I started watching it a few days ago and I realized I had actually seen the entire movie and just forgotten about it vs only seeing bits and pieces like I thought. Whoops.
Rear Window is one of my all-time favourites, it's so simple yet so intense!
ReplyDeleteNetwork, Scenes from a Marriage, and Kramer vs Kramer are movies I still need to watch, too. Love Casablanca and Dr. Strangelove! Eraserhead... good luck with that one 😂
I agree! Eraserhead looks wild, I'm saving that for October.
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