Review of Vertigo (1958) by Whit W — 29 Sep 2012

There are only two things that bother me about "Vertigo". James Stewart's "Scottie" follows Kim Novak around a little too long which makes the film drag at the beginning and Scottie seems too old to be romantically involved with Kim Novak's Madeleine. Other than that, this is just masterful. There is so much to be awed by. The wonderful shots of San Francisco. Scottie's technicolor nightmare. Bernard Herrmann's beautiful score, which is on my short list of favorites. But I think I'm ultimately sold by the overwheming obesession that Scottie has for Madeleine. It's painful and at first you feel sorry for him and then it turns into some pretty disgusting behavior. When Kim Novak's character emerges from behind a locked hotel room door, the way she appears from a white-green haze, it's absolutely haunting.

I don't think this is a perfect movie and I know it has recently been voted as the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound. It's not in my Top Ten or anything but there is so much here that is so good I have no choice but to rate it as high as I can.