Somewhat disappointing.

Rating: 9/10 (18 August 2004)

As often happens when one experiences something after a great deal of build up, the primary emotion one feels is disappointment. I had read for years how Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" was a masterpiece, one of the greatest and most suspenseful films ever made. So when I finally rented it and watched it, I came away thinking it quite overrated. The film was rather unremarkable in my estimation, despite the superb work by the cast and the undeniable craftsmanship. It just didn't seem particularly interesting to me. The cast was great. Jimmy Stewart (a longtime favourite for his work in "It's A Wonderful Life") is quite convincing as L.B. Jeffries, the photographer with a broken leg who is convinced his girlfriend is too good for him; Grace Kelly is truly luminous, and her work makes me want to see more of her movies; Thelma Ritter (from "All About Eve") is great as Stella, Stewart's nurse. Raymond Burr is good as the villain of the piece, Lars Thurwald, although he never becomes a truly great villain. Despite all that I've heard of Hitchcock's skill as a director, no sequence was really suspenseful to me, although many were quite interesting.