Vertigo (1958)

Vertigo stars James "Jimmy" Stewart as recently retired, acrophobic police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson. Scottie's been hired as private investigator by an old college friend to follow his wife Madeline (Kim Novak). Despite Madeline's apparent ritualistic behaviors and suicidal tendencies, Scottie finds himself falling for her.

I'm more a fan of Hitchcock's mental thrillers than his more blatant harming people right in front of your face. I'll take Notorious over The Birds any day. So since I knew Vertigo would include an on-screen death, I felt I was getting a little adventurous with this movie choice. And in a way, I was.

This movie is sort of amazing. With the time period in which the movie was filmed I expected some hokeyness - perhaps along the lines of Dial M for Murder which came out four years earlier. While a little hokeyness persisted in Vertigo, it's not enough to make a lasting impression. Instead it's surprisingly deep story. Jimmy Stewart is more known for uttering lines that include the phrase "hot dog!" but here he gradually transforms into a man compelled by one dark notion.

My only gripe is one that transcends this movie into a general Hitchcock gripe. It's the use of glasses to make a girl "unattractive" so the audience can dismiss her as being anything but a character who will be used by our protagonist. In Vertigo it's Barbara Bel Geddes as Scottie's friend (and former girlfriend), Midge. Her big, red frames (and prior Hitchcock knowledge) telegraph right from the beginning that despite her being the most likable character and the biggest help for Scottie, we can't even hope anyone will take stock in her. You could spin it and say the glasses are a sign that only she sees what's happening to Scottie, but with Judy's existence that seems less likely the case. It's too bad because she's a fantastic character and Bel Geddes give a fantastic performance.

I don't want to give too much more away. It's definitely more fun to view it not quite knowing where it's going. But I was impressed - with the story, symbolism, and acting. I guess I haven't seen enough of the films that came out in 1958 to understand why Stewart didn't at least get an Oscar nomination (although he did win the Zulueta Prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival).

Rating: 4/5

Recommended for: seeing an exquisite Hitchcock balancing act

The Young Victoria (2009)

The Young Victoria is such a pretty movie to view. And sure enough, it won Best Achievement in Costume Design at the 2010 Oscars and was nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Makeup as well. The sets could swallow you whole with their grandeur - no doubt helped by the fact that many of them were real homes and castles.

The film also focuses on a intriguing subject - the British monarchy - in particular Queen Victoria, whose reign began in 1837 and didn't end until 1901. This particular film chose to focus on the events leading up to her coronation and those first few years as Queen.

Victoria (Emily Blunt) is aware that she's next in line for the throne. Her mother (Miranda Richardson) is too, possibly even more so, as she's done everything possible to keep Victoria in a bubble - not just for her protection but in an attempt to mold Victoria into the leader she and the scheming Sir John Conroy would prefer her to be. Victoria is too aware and too smart to be an ideal piece of clay.

Blunt convincingly portrays the complexity of a young woman who refuses to be pushed around and enthusiastically wants what's best for her people while holding the knowledge that she has absolutely no practical experience at her job. She acknowledges duty but chooses to marry Albert (Rupert Friend), a man she loves. Their relationship makes for an endearing core to the story.

The choice to focus on that time is refreshing - since Queen Victoria movies don't usually focus on how she got there. And yet, this choice also makes the film a little awkward. I felt like things were just revving up when the movie ends. Showing the coronation at the beginning also steals some of the thunder. But still, it's an interesting watch with captivating performances by Blunt and Friend. And for the most part, it's even historically accurate.

Rating: 4/5

Recommended for: quiet, rainy afternoon viewing