"Vertigo" (1958) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #9

Synopsis (according to AFI)
Stewart's fear of heights, Novak's woman of mystery, Bernard Herrmann's haunting score, and the city of San Francisco provide Hitchcock with a great love story and sexual obsession on a grand psychological level.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
First of all, this was my favorite movie out of the 8 or 9 that we watched in my American Film class. Even though I thought the majority of it was slow, I was literally on the edge of my seat toward the end because I had no idea what was going to happen. And it was because of this that I thought it was a great movie.

Having said that, I was quite surprised to see that this is considered the 9th best film of all time. This surprises me because this really isn't the type of movie that makes me say "how can anyone NOT like this movie?!" For one thing, it's a complex movie, and the ending is so unconventional that not everyone really likes it. But, since this was my third time seeing it, I'm convinced that it's one you need to see multiple times to really begin to appreciate how well the story is put together. That was my experience, anyway.

I'm also really surprised that this is the highest rated Hitchcock film because I don't think it's the most well known of his movies. Most people I know have heard of and/or seen Rear Window, Psycho, and "The Birds", but practically none of them have even heard of "Vertigo".

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
According to the production notes on the DVD, "Vertigo" is one of the most discussed and debated films in history because of its dark and deep venture into the human psyche. This is probably the reason it's considered the 9th best film ever made in American history: it might not be the most entertaining Hitchcock movie, but I certainly think it's the most intriguing and thought-provoking of the Hitchcock films I've seen.

Complaints:
Before this third viewing, I thought the bulk of the movie was too slow and boring. After this time, however, I only think a couple scenes had a little bit of unnecessary footage. Another "complaint" would be one of the supporting roles didn't seem to have much of a purpose other than to be the vehicle in giving the audience tidbits of information to help the story make more sense.

LET ME SUM UP...
This is considered Hitchcock's deepest delve into the complexities of the human psyche, and that is what makes this movie so critically acclaimed. Not everyone will enjoy this movie or appreciate it, but I certainly do. It may seem a little slow, or the ending may put you off, but if you're anything like me, you'll love the ending and, in turn, love this movie.

MY RATING: 8.5/10 (0.5 higher from my previous rating)