One of the most gripping and breathless thrillers ever! Totally creepy and brilliant!

Rating: 10/10 (28 December 2005)

Hitchcock has always been a genius. Just about every one of his films is thrilling and dramatic. I know that I am treating him the way some fans do to Tarintino or Burton, but I just plain love his films! I just finished Rear Window. It blew me away. Instead of just simply saying "This film rocks," I will describe in detail the greatness and superiority of this film.
Like most Hitchcock films, Rear Window stars James Stewart. He plays L.B. Jefferies, a photographer for a magazine who recently broke his leg when trying to take a photo in the middle of a racetrack. (His boss said he wanted something new and exciting.) So, L.B. Jefferies has absolutely nothing better to do than just sit down in his wheelchair and watch the neighbors do their daily business. But, one night, he hears fighting, bickering, and then a scream from one of his neighbors apartments. Then, he observes as the man living in the apartment enters and exits his house three times during the rain. Now, isn't that odd? What could it be? Murder! Rear Window is a very complex and one hell of a movie. The drama, thrills and comedy do not under whelm the viewer.
Rear Window is successful as a thriller. Wouldn't it be weird to wonder what your neighbor was doing from at least seven feet away? L.B. Jefferies sees him doing mysterious actions, but doesn't know exactly what he is doing or thinking. Plus, he has to make sure that the neighbor doesn't see him! Rear Window is surrounded by a creepy atmosphere and scares and bewilders the viewer, whenever the neighbor does something. What is he doing? Can he really be murdering his neighbor? Where is he? As the plot grows more and more complex, the viewer can only hold their breath until the action happens. The film is also effective, considering the distance between L.B. Jefferies and his neighbor. It gives the viewer an increased feeling of uncertainty, and makes the film even more seemingly complex and vague.
Drama occurs between the characters, as they each play to their own tricks. L.B. Jefferies and the audience aren't the only ones being creeped out. How unforgettable is the scene where Lisa slips a note under his door saying "What have you done with her?" Even with that, Rear Window can be a comedy. It doesn't make much of an effort for it's jokes, and cleverly hides them amongst dialogue.
Lisa: I wish I was creative like that.
L.B. Jefferies: You are. You're great at creating difficult situations.
Yep. Rear Window is just about perfect. But, Hitchcock fans expecting an unpredictable twister of a movie will be disappointed, because there are no major twists. Then again, a major Hitchcock fan wouldn't expect that, would they? Besides, I can't tell you how many thrillers ended up confusing due to plot twists.
10/10