Don't Mess With Perry Mason

Rating: Null/10 (2 March 2004)

Who else in the history of cinema could create a more suspenseful environment than an overweight Englishman could? No one, that's who. And with "Rear Window", that rotund Brit, better known as Alfred Hitchcock, displays a real knack for creating tremendous tension. With a very minimalist approach, Hitchcock builds up an atmosphere that rivals any other film in the genre, even to this day.	The very first thing that you notice when watching Rear Window is the camera movement. Or, better yet, the lack of movement. Why this film is so original is that the camera never moves out of the main characters room. All the shots in the film are from out the window, the perspective of the disabled Jimmy Stewart. A sense of uneasiness is very prevalent due to the fact that you cannot really see everything that's going on outside the window. This is a major part of the story and is the catalyst for the actions of the characters.	What makes Hitchcock such a master is that there's a deep meaning to his films. This film may just seem like a fun murder mystery to the untrained eye, but to those in the know, it's so much more. In "Rear Window", Hitchcock studies and analyzes human nature and people's tendencies towards voyeurism in an interesting and engaging atmosphere. Questions about society are proposed in this film, like people's need to satisfy their curiosity and the ethics surrounding interfering with other's personal lives. Very interesting points are made, but are cleverly hidden within the dialogue and plot.	This is a great movie, one that could only be done by a master like Hitchcock. One little piece of advice when watching this though; stick with it. It's a slow building, mainly dialogue driven story, but it has a great payoff. Now I like that sort of thing, others may not however. Trust me though; you won't be disappointed in the least bit. It's just the Hitchcock style of story telling that helps to build enormous tension and suspense.
At the very least, you'll at least have some ideas to slow down a would be attacker with little to your dispense. Enjoy.

Overall Grade for "Rear Window" - A