Dial M For Murder (1954) Review

Dial M For Murder was made at the peak of Hitchcock's career. It was his first film to star Grace Kelly and oddly enough it was shot in 3D. It represents a moment in Hollywood history when the threat of television was being felt everywhere and even a self-contained adaption of a stage play could be a 3D movie. This notion is clearly absurd. If you didn't know beforehand there is practically no way to notice that this film was made in 3D. I saw it in 2D and it did nothing to lessen the impact.

This film stars Ray Milland as a husband who wants to murder his promiscuous wife (Grace Kelly). He has this perfect murder plot and the rest of the film follows with great surprises that shall not be spoiled here. The perfect murder idea has been explored countless times and even many times in Hitchcock movies. You would expect that this film would have nothing else to offer but the shock is that it does. The film keeps the audience on the edge of its seat as it hurls itself towards its end. I was even surprised a few times and it was as if Hitchcock was reading my mind and then doing the opposite of what I thought was going to happen. This is the best aspect of this film, the unexpected.

Perhaps the second best aspect of this film is the quality of acting on display. Milland is devilishly sophisticated as the husband and Grace Kelly shows a lot of layers as the wife. She could have played the role straight and gotten away with being Grace Kelly but instead she plays the role  with surprising depth. The dialogue is actually quite good and often infused with great wit.

The direction as usual with Hitchcock is a strong pint. Shows great fluidity and camera movement as well as the proper lighting and shadow. Cutting too is incredibly effective. From the start of the film you are assured that you are in the hands of a master.

Unfortunately while this film has many ingredients that could easily make it top tier Hitchcock, it falters slightly in a few places. this is a nit pick to be sure but I just didn't get the sequence when (Spoiler Alert) a major character is brought to trial. It is overly stylized and to me just feels almost cheap even cheesy. This isn't typical of Hitchcock. Also the film has its own limitations because of its source material being a perfect murder story. The conclusion can feel convoluted at times but to the films credit everything feels well wrapped up in the end. Overall to call this anything but a great film would preposterous but you have to remember whose work we're looking at here and it is a testament Mr. Hitchcock that second tier for him is first rate for everyone else. 4/5

The Departed (2006)

This crime film was the one that finally gave Scorsese his academy award. based on a foreign film called Infernal affairs this story of mob informants, cops, and just plain mobsters is fantastic from start to finish, It keeps audiences glued to the edge of their seats without ever becoming unintelligent. This is how movies should be made.

I was too young to see the Departed when it first hit theaters back in 06 and finally this last week I got a chance to sit down and screen it for myself. I was truly hooked from the opening line to the conclusion. In a day and age where it seems we either sacrifice thrills in our movies for intelligence or vice versa this movie is a refreshing reminder that this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. This film never stops being both interesting and exciting. Offering up scenes of action as well as very compelling characters.

The performances in this film are spectacular. Nicholson's mob boss has to go down as one of the great criminals of the medium. DiCaprio's performance is also equally good. For the rest of the cast including especially Matt Damon, Scorsese's name seems to have attracted the best of the best.

The direction of this film is first rate and really shows a master's touch. From the music used to the action scenes it is quintessential Scorsese and what more could you ask for 5/5! 

Top Ten Alfred Hitchcock Movies

In honor of TCM's September series "Sundays with Hitch" this week's list counts down my ten favorite films from the Master of Suspense!

Honorable Mention: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
This film holds a special place for me because it was my introduction to Hitchcock. It is a remake of one of his own films and it may very well be his most Hollywood-ized film. With a plot that involves a Jimmy Stewart reluctantly trying to stop an assassination plot to save his kidnapped son, a hit song by Doris Day, and the films location in the exotic locale of Morocco this film has all of the ingredients that make up Hitchcock's best films.

10: Rope (1949)
 Rope is an experimental film that was shot with as few cuts as possible. This meant that takes lasted up to 15 minutes and that the set had to have wall that could move so the camera could do what Hitchcock wanted it to. the film tells the story of two guys who commit a murder and then hide the body in a trunk in their apartment. They then proceed to have a dinner party where people end up actually eating over the trunk, unaware of what's inside it. This is Hitchcock using both gripping suspense and dark humor to tell a great story. The film also stars Jimmy Stewart as a former teacher of the two murderers. This is one of the hidden gems in the director's library.

9: Strangers On a Train (1951).
This film marked the beginning of Hitch's greatest decade, the fifties. It is the story of two men who meet on a train that both have someone they would like to get rid of. One of them, a psychopath, suggests that they swap murders, the other just thinks he's joking but soon realizes this is not  the case when "his murder" is committed.  This film is dark and suspenseful, speeding along at breathtaking speed. This film allows Hitchcock to study one of his first ever movie psychos and also experiment with some nifty camerawork.

8: The Lady Vanishes (1937)
The Lady Vanishes was made during Hitchcock's time in Britain and it represents the best of his work their. This story is distinctly British and it is done with much style. While not maybe the Master's most complex film it is definitely one of his most entertaining.

7: Rebecca (1940)
Many modern critics dismiss this film as being both non essential Hitchcock and not of high quality. Both of these statements are fundamentally false. While Hitchcock didn't count it among his best that feeling probably came form the film's heated production where he battled with the producer Selznick. In the end this is a Hitchcock film through and through. From the movement off the camera to the sexual undertones. It is the only one of his films to win a best picture award and it remains a remarkable film to this day. It also has a fantastic cast that all give great performances. It is certainly a must watch. Check out my Two Films Review of Rebecca and Suspicion.

6: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
This was Hitch's favorite film he made and it's not hard to see why. The story of murder coming to a small town was co-written by Thorton Wilder the man who created Our Town. This film has gripping suspense and great performances from Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton. It is the director's first true masterpiece and it still casts an eerie spell to this day.

5: Vertigo (1957)
Some might be shocked by the placement this far back for this film. Vertigo was recently named the greatest film of all time by the Sight and Sound Critic's poll. Any of the films in the top 5 could pretty much be number 1 but this is my list of favorite Hitchcock films and therefore isn't necessarily based on their merit as art. Vertigo is an incredibly well crafted and personal film. It is also beautifully shot etching images in our brain of San Francisco that will last forever. The film is all about obsession and Jimmy Stewart gives one of his finest performances. This is a film that you really have to see twice to appreciate because it is far more intricate than it seems and it is truly cinema as high art. Also the soundtrack is perfection and is the basis for most modern dramatic film scores.

4: Notorious (1946)
Notorious used to be the film that people pointed to as Hitchcock's best and it has now lost a little of its critical reputation which is a shame because this is definitely one of his best. This film stars Cary grant and Ingrid Bergman a perfect Hollywood combination and it has the great Claude Raines as the villain. Any film with that cast cannot be bad and it just so happens that Notorious is great. This is Hitch's greatest love story and it really has some of his greatest sequences. Especially the party scene when Grant and Bergman sneak down into the wine cellar to look for the stolen uranium. With a great cast and even better direction this film is truly a masterpiece.

3: Psycho (1960)
Many times people today mistakenly associate Hitchcock only with horror films. That misconception probably stems from this film which still holds up as one of the greatest horror films of all time. The less said about this one the better. If you've seen it you know why and if you haven't you're in for a treat.

2: Rear Window (1954)
This film as a great combination of thriller and complex culture study. It is glamorous, thrilling and thought provoking what more can you ask for. It has the great everyman Jimmy Stewart and the gorgeous Grace Kelly. It also has a mysterious murder and an interesting character study of all types of people. This is that rare film that can be enjoyed on the surface as well as studied and it holds up under both lenses. A truly great masterpiece this film really stands on its own.

1: North By Northwest (1959)
Is this film pure escapism? yes, are there more complex and artful Hitchcock films around? yes Are there any that are as fun and entertaining? no. North By Northwest is the ultimate exercise in escapism. With Cary Grant, spies, national monuments and sexual tension, it has it all. This film basically invented the popcorn films that we see so often today and none of them even hold a candle to it. This film may not be a work of art in the way that Vertigo is but it makes up for that in entertainment value. This is the film I turn to if I want a great Hitchcock film it has all of the ingredients you want and it is so good you will keep coming back again and again. This film is often imitated but never touched, It's my favorite Hitchcock film.

Don Jon (2013) Review

There is no doubt that Joseph Gordon Levitt is one of the brightest of Hollywood's rising stars. With his performances in the Dark Knight Rises and Looper last year he really showed that he could have true star power. With his directional debut Don Jon he also shows the potential to succeed behind the camera. Don Jon is a far more marquee film than most directional debuts. It has an all star cast which includes Scarlett Johansson as well as Tony Danza. It also benefits from a large advertising budget which has allowed it to get real attention. Unfortunately, despite all of this, it is still quite obvious that this is a first film.

Don Jon tells the story of a title character who cares about "only a few things" in his life. Above all of these things is his obsession with internet pornography. While the film has been marketed as a rom com in a sense, the pornography addiction Jon faces is the center of the film. Jon lives a very repetitive lifestyle until he meets Scarlett Johansson's character Barbara. She is facing her own false images in the form of romantic films. The rest of the film shows how all of this plays out in a somewhat unexpected manner.

One way that it is clear Don Jon is a first film is that it really is quite excessive. I understand the temptation of Levitt to make sure that we really do understand Jon's character and addiction but after a while the film borders on becoming what it is actually against. That's not to say that the film is not multi layered, it certainly is, but sometimes the substance of the film is caught up in the director's attempt to be certain that we understand Jon's addiction. By the film's middle we're thinking "alright already" when another flashy quick cutting montage of his online exploits comes across the screen. I almost feel more time than is allotted should have been spent dissecting Barbara's false images. It seems as though Levitt got caught up in the idea of making a controversial movie instead of really fleshing out his ideas about today's culture.

To the movie's benefit Levitt's ideas about the cultural pressures people face in today's society are definitely relevant, and to a large extent true. The film is most effective when it really stops and takes a look at our misconceptions about the world which we get from the media. The only problem is that this never feels as fleshed out as it should have been. Scenes that have substance seemed rushed over to get to the next montage and for most of the movie the effect leaves a bad taste in the audiences mouth. There is substance here and it is more than one layer deep it just feels like it could have been given more time. The film runs 90 minutes and it wouldn't have been bad if there was just a little longer for the film's core ideas to really set in. Certain aspects of life are definitely simplified, including the Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation. These aspects of the film, if fleshed out, could have made it something even more affective.

Don Jon is technically a comedy and it is funny in places. Unfortunately I think that the subject matter is so risky and serious it isn't a real laugh out loud film in most places. This definitely isn't a date film! The performances by the cast are consistently strong and Danza in particular plays a role that is very different from his previous father figure roles. The direction by Levitt, aside from what is mentioned above, Is interesting and very modern. He has a unique touch which is great to see in a first time director. In the end the question to ask about Don Jon is whether the explicit, long, and outrageously raunchy journey is worth the worthy conclusion the film receives. For me this is a movie I won't plan on seeing again but it does show great directional promise and it ends on a note which almost makes the whole thing work entirely, almost. 3/5

Film Class Films: "Silence is Good" The General (1925) and Metropolis (1927)

In part 2 of my series on films I watch in film class, we will take a look at movies made with the best the silent era had to offer. While this may often be forgotten, films had actually reached a high level of artistic achievement by the end of the silent era. These two films represent that pinnacle of soundless achievement that showed the world the value of silence.





















The General (1925)
While Charlie Chaplin may be more famous, there is no doubt in my mind that Buster Keaton at least rivaled him in terms of comedic ability. Sadly overlooked at the time of its release the General is now considered Keaton's greatest cinematic achievement. This is a film that will make you forget you are watching a silent film.

For many, the experience of watching a silent film is seen as tiresome. The lack of sounds and dialogue coupled with mood setting music make for a sometimes soporific experience. The General is one of the exceptions to that rule. It is a film that was made for what the director Alfred Hitchcock called "pure cinema" the idea of something that you can only experience in a movie theater. The General is one of those films which requires a visual experience and, in many ways, a soundless one.

The general is the story of a man who loved two things: his girl, and his train. It is set at the beginning of the civil war and follows Keaton's character's attempt to join the southern confederate army. After his attempt fails because he is too valuable as a mechanic Keaton is suddenly and unexpectedly involved in the war when his train is stolen and so is his girl. An incredibly entertaining chase ensue.

This comedy is best in sound because of its beautiful simplicity. This film could not possibly be as wonderfully simple as it is if dialogue had to be added. What makes the film great is the way that it is a simple and wonderfully entertain chase. Keaton's timing is perfect leading to moments of suspense followed by moments of incredible laughter.

The General was the first silent film I watched which really had me hooked and loving every minute of it. you will to if you give it a try, it's one for the ages 5/5!





















Metropolis (1927)
Metropolis is considered by film historians and audiences alike to be German Director Fritz Lang's masterpiece. The Science Fiction story of class warfare and technological advancements in a dystopian future is truly mesmerizing from start to finish.

Many will be daunted by the films runtime of 2 hrs. which for most is too long to watch a silent film. My advice: don't be you won't even notice the runtime. Like the General Metropolis is a film that makes you forget it's silent. It's images will be etched in your brain forever. Metropolis' great strength are its images. with special effects leagues ahead of there time and a cast of thousands, this film truly is epic. Lang does what is required of a great sci-fi director, and that is he creates a world. One that is intriguing and believable.

The story is high art, focusing on themes that are so broad and yet so important that many movies won't even touch them. Lang handles these themes adeptly and creates a story that is pretty masterful from start to finish. The acting may be overly expressive in many areas but overall this is a film that cannot be missed by anybody that is interested in film. 4.5/5

Movies Everyone Must See: The Awful Truth (1937)

The Awful Truth starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne was made at the height of the golden age of screwball comedy in the 1930's and it is one of the best of that type of film. The film is a classic story about a married couple in the process of divorce who soon realize that they need to get back together. It is not the plot of this film that matters, most people will be able to guess the ending before it even starts, but it's how funny this movie is that makes it a true classic.

Grant is in top form here playing a comedic type that he would reprise successfully many times. His cool and suave demeanor coupled with his biting humor help him to capture the audience. Dunne isn't bad at all either, her role requires for a bit of serious acting and it comes off quite well. In fact she was nominated for best actress by the Academy that year for this performance. The supporting cast, as in all comedies of this era, is absolutely superb.

The Beauty of this film is that it does not rush you into the comedy but instead slowly builds in hilarity. This may be a little strange for viewers not used to comedies of this era who are used instead to joke a minute parodies. If you are patient, your patience will be well rewarded and the film builds to a very satisfactory conclusion.

The Awful Truth definitely ranks among the best of the many great screwball comedies of the era. Combining fantastic performances and truly hilarious situation this is one for the ages! 5/5

Film Class Films: "In the Beginning" the Great Train Rbbery (1903) and Charlie Chaplin's the Kid (1921)

This new series of posts is devoted to the films which I view as part of my History of American Film class in college. These posts will contain reviews of the films as well as analysis of their place in film history as a whole. Films will be added in the order that I see them in class.

The Great Train Robbery (1903)
This film is really impossible to write a review about so this is more of an analysis about the place this film holds in the history of the medium. The great Train Robbery was the first film to have a cohesive plot with a beginning a middle and an end. Clocking in at 13 minutes this film is definitely shorter than a feature and it is worth watching for the historical aspects of it. It is also worth watching because, considering that it is 110 years old, it is a quite sophisticated film. Porter made a huge leap in directing in this film and every movies owes something to this film because it was the first to pave the way!


The Kid (1921)
The Kid comes almost twenty years after the Great Train Robbery and it is considered one of comedian Charlie Chaplin's greatest works. The film tells the story of a boy who is estranged from his single mother and ends up in the care of Chaplin's character the Tramp. While many Chaplin films offer great gags the Kid is notable for its use of real drama. This is not a pure comedy but is instead a dramedy with many effective scenes. It is admittedly hard to get into silent movies and this film is no exception but if you just force yourself to watch it you might find that the lack of sound fades away and the film comes alive. It doesn't quite come alive enough for me to want to see it again but it is definitely a pivotal work in the career of a great comedian. 4/5