So much more than what you think.

The Movie: Rear Window, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Recommendation: AFI Top 100.
Reason: It's #48.

Disturbia was okay, but Rear Window just transcends. It's sweet, funny, poignant, entertaining, tense, suspenseful...it has all of the necessary parts to be an excellent film. And it is one. Grace Kelly and James Stewart were excellent leads in a story that's as much about our voyeurism as it was about Jeff's.

I don't even feel qualified to review this film. It was just great. The perspective-entirely from Jeff's apartment-was so well planned, the supporting actors did so much with so few lines and so much expressive acting, the characters were sympathetic...I could go on and on. The story was just so human.

I can't not recommend that everyone see this movie. It's just so good. For a film that's entertaining, thoughtful and interesting, I wouldn't look much further.

-162/365 down, 203/365 to go

I think I've seen this movie before.

The Movie: Rope, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Recommendation: No one, I'm just brushing up on some more of The Man.
Reason: The Man.

Holy crow, the long shots. I like to notice technique in film, and this is no exception. Rope was shot almost continuously, the film supposedly taking place in real time, and Hitchcock's construction of multiple carefully considered long shots carries off the illusion almost seamlessly. It's really well done.

The performances were quite good, Jimmy Stewart as usual the standout. His delivery's so distinctive I regret my previous lack of experience with his work. He manages to ramp up the tension really well in the last act, during his confrontation with the murderers. I was pretty thrilled.

The movie I refer to in the title is Murder By Numbers, though as it turns out, I'm dead wrong. Though the plot is similar (as are the murderers and the really homosexual undertone), it's not the same. Interesting connection, nevertheless.

-131/365 down, 234/365 to go

Uplifting Christmas movies make Gwen something something...

The Movie: It's a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra
Recommendation: AFI Top 100
Reason: It seems like everyone but me watches It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas time. My family watch A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation...I wonder if I should have come clean about that...

Maybe I'm just not in a Christmas mood because it's May. I...didn't really swoon over this movie the way some people do. We'll chalk it up to being all modern and jaded today-I've been reading Battle Royale, so the mood wasn't exactly set for an uplifting experience.

Jimmy Stewart was likeable as the lead character, which just compounded my urges for sickle-style revenge (Battle Royale again, sorry everyone) against everyone who took advantage of him. I mean, it just seems like the guy's entire purpose is to get kicked around by life and everyone around him. And they all have the gall to look shocked when the poor guy snaps? I really did feel badly for him, so at the very least, the film succeeded on that level.

I guess I just wasn't in the mood for it tonight, but I would welcome the possibility of seeing the movie again, in a more appropriate setting. Not a fond holiday memory, but a good film nonetheless.

-104/365 down, 261/365 to go