The best movie of all time? Not quite, but close...

Rating: 9/10 (26 August 2013)

"Sight and Sound" magazine's 2012 poll named Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" the best movie of all time. So, this review should settle the big question – is it really the best movie of all time? The answer to that is no, but it does make a very good case for itself. It's a detective story about obsession and fear, and the Master of Suspense manages to tackle both of those themes very well. In a shot that is now much mimicked and parodied, the "Vertigo Shot" seen when Stewart is climbing up the bell tower is still just as effective 55 years later, echoing the fear that Stewart has.
The plot is extremely clever, with the first half following a classic yet slightly unnerving detective story, but the second half detailing the obsessions of Scottie and building up to the final reveal at the very end of the film. We are constantly lead to believe in the first half that something supernatural is going on with Madeline, and it is even more satisfying to find out towards the end that it is not, as the real explanation is just as good. The love that blossoms between the two of them is very interesting, as it makes her sudden 'suicide' even more shocking. In a technique that Hitchcock uses in 'Psycho' as well, killing off a main character unexpectedly in the first half of the movie works brilliantly in keeping the audience guessing where he will go next.
The second half of the film allows us to see into the subconscious of Scottie, and we wonder constantly how much he knows about 'Judy' and how much is an obsession with 'Madeline'. His character is made to seem even creepier through the fact that he only realises very late that the two are the same, meaning that he has been making 'Judy' dress up as his recently deceased lover to satisfy his own needs. Hitchcock is clever in revealing sooner that they are the same character, as it adds more to our guessing how much he knows.
Herrmann's score to the film is once again brilliant, with his romantic use of strings in the "Love Theme" and fantastic "Prelude" theme. The music complements the film perfectly, and is one of Herrmann's best scores for Hitchcock. So, with all of the positive things I've said, why isn't it up there for the best movie of all time? It's slightly overlong, and occasionally too confusing. But the main thing is that it's not Hitchcock's best work. It doesn't quite reach the great heights of his next two films – 'North by Northwest' or 'Psycho', both of which go slightly further in their mystery and cleverness. That said, it is another fantastic thriller from the Master, and a must see for any film lover.