All human life is here

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2000)

Hitch's finest: containing more humanity than his earlier films, but with the same precision to detail and technical excellence that first made his name.
That said, what really separates this from all his other work, and that of the other great directors, is that the lead character is as impotent to alter his view-point, or act on what he sees, as is the viewer. Stewart becomes a de facto member of the audience , and all this while not only retaining all his phlegmatic charm and charisma, but also adding a hitherto rarely seen hard edge.
Kelly is given a rare chance to portray a character other than a porcelain doll, and in doing so elicits the audience sympathy. Perhaps the most interesting part of the picture though, are the voyeuristic overtones of not only Stewart, but also the audience observing snippets of the life across the court-yard. Is he justified in keeping himself entertained, in his injury imposed monotony, by intruding on his neighbours private lives? Are we?