pictures! - #12 - Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)
So now that I've watched the big three from Hitchcock -
Vertigo,
Psycho, and
Rear Window - within the time-frame of a month or two, I can definitely see why he's regarded so highly. His films are highly entertaining, but with deep themes and a stamp personal enough to satisfy any auteurist. Like the other two films,
Rear Window starts off slowly (excruciatingly so for my modern sensibilities), but it actually fits the story this time around. Hitchcock relays his fear of impotence and weakness with startling clarity as the suspense slowly, methodically builds to unbearable levels. That element, plus the natural, restrained feel of the entire piece, make this my favorite of the three. The theme of voyeurism / reflection of audience desires is written about quite a bit, but it's one of those elements that I think is more interesting to write about than to watch.
Rear Window is now my #54th favorite film of all-time.
- #171 - Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987)
So many wonderful poetic ramblings! I like this film for the same reason I like
8½ - it captures essential elements of the human experience perfectly with delicious, rich B&W photography. The wonder of life, the fear of death, the pain of impotent observation. Unfortunately, I didn't like the ending one bit. The Nick Cave music goes too-much-punk-not-enough-blues and the poetry of the leads' relationship is given a bizarre final monologue. I could feel the film slipping away as the film failed to cohere its thematic and story elements together. Something was needed to tie everything together, and the ending chosen didn't do it for me. I really wanted to like this more than I did. It's still quite good, but after the first 45 minutes, I was thinking Top 5 all time, and it's definitely not that now (after this viewing, at least).
Wings of Desire is now somewhere between #151 and #200 on my all-time favorites list.