I couldn't wait for this week. I love Hitchcock. Truly Madly Deeply love Hitchcock. I just took the TCM Hitchcock course and got an even better appreciation of him. I can't say enough about his genius. So I was really really really looking forward to watching this one. I've seen in several times before, but I can always watch Hitch again. I've said before, lately I've been in the mood for either happy movies or pretty movies. This is a pretty movie. So yay!
So dinner. Well, I wasn't up for much tonight. I was full and this film is just such a true cinematic experience, that I felt very very comfortable serving traditional movie fare! POPCORN! It really doesn't hurt that popcorn happens to be one of my favorite foods ever. I love it so much that it doesn't even need butter. Pop it in oil, add some salt, and it's just perfect. Like Hitchcock. ;-)
Really, is there anything more beautiful than a big old bowl of popcorn?
This movie really is all about Hitch. The sets, the shots, the color, the framing. I mean everything was perfect. Each scene was a poem. The most impressive set, of course, was the apartment complex. Each apartment was complete. It was a very elaborate set. Hitch was never one to go half way. I've really come to appreciate him as an artist. The TCM class that I took really taught me so much about him and changed my perspective of him. I've always loved Hitchcock. You cannot be a film buff and not love Hitch. It's a rule. I think his genius lies in his ability to create a film that can be enjoyed on many levels. You can enjoy it simply and just watch it as a movie, you can read deeper into it and see the innovation that Hitch used to pull out your emotions and make you think.
See how he pulls you into this world? Just like it pulls Jimmy Stewart.
Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. They do really good in their roles. But were their performances exceptional? Mmmm, no. Do I think they could have been done by mediocre actors? Yes. Hitch could get what he needed out of anyone. They were props to get his vision out. Jimmy Stewart was there to move the story along. And Grace Kelly? Well, she was there to reflect the light. So lovely, but the acting? Not so much. For me, all of the emotions and storytelling came from the direction and the shots.
So lovely. But I don't know that she served any other purpose.
Everything to Hitch is a prop. From the actor to the camera. Notice the reflection in the lens. Everything is so deliberate. You pull so much from Hitch's work if you want to.
Raymond Burr was a great bad guy too. That look is chilling!
I really enjoyed this movie. Like I said, it can be enjoyed on so many levels. If you just want pretty, it can be that. If you want to good story, it can be that. If you're in the mood to analyze a film and read deeper into the techniques Hitch used to convey his story, you can do that too. Notice the details. That is the brilliance of Hitchcock. I had a great night. AND there was popcorn. <3
Love,
Olive
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