Review of Rear Window (1954) by Roseana M — 04 Feb 2012

Rear Window is without a doubt the perfect mystery thriller. Alfred Hitchcock has an uncanny passion and mind that brings us some of the greatest masterpieces in film. The film shows different perspectives of people lives through a window of a man. Its hard to find something wrong with this film, if you want to be picky and your a jerk about slow films than I feel sorry for you, but as for me I say that thrillers like this are what true film making is all about. You have to be some kind of crazy to find one of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest works a bad film.

Jeff (James Stewart) is a photographer who has been paralyzed and now spends his days in a wheelchair staring out his rear window of his apartment and staring at his neighbors. His girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) tells him that she wants to take their relationship to the next step but he is very skeptical about it. He soon believes he sees a murder from one of his neighbors and plans to capture him for his crime.

The plot of the film is incredibly detailed and is interested me with all the different perspectives he sees. From every moment to every resident in the windows this movie interested me with the originality and style. The characters were likable from the beginning because they are just regular people brought into this whole crime which made them even better. The characters in the windows were also very interesting because I was learning about them just from this mans point of view. An incredible and in my opinion perfect plot.

The cast is pretty incredible and unforgetable in my opinion. James Stewart has always been likable and a legendary actor, he is has the voice and personality that just makes us root for him just like It's A Wonderful Life. Grace Kelly starts out a bit out of touch but soon I came to like her and she was very memorable. The cast is not the best thing about this perfect film, but they are still one of the things that make it great.

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the greatest film directors of all time for his films, and Rear Window is one of the few that will keep him remembered forever. He is the main key that makes it a truly great thriller and ground breaking for its time. Some may look back at this film and say "its too old for me" but I just look back and picture what those people in the theater thought of something as great as this. If you ever see this film, I hope you see it the way I did, as a perfect and timeless masterpiece.