That end was so ridiculous haha

I don't know if I went into this with high expectations because of the critical acclaim it has, but I was left a bit confused at the end as to why _Vertigo_ is so lauded.

I love many movies from this era and indeed Hitchcock's work (I especially love _Rear Window_) but hadn't seen this one before. The first half of the film was enjoyable and felt like a slow burn, unfolding towards some thrilling conclusion. James Stewart is always watchable and the cast in general is good, but I felt the film's second half drastically let it down. [spoiler]There were abrupt developments, such as Stewart's character Scotty getting hospitalised then suddenly free again, and then there's how Scotty displays a manipulative stalker-like side when he finds Kim Novak's character again, and pretty much holds her captive for the remainder of the film - until her death marks the almost hilariously abrupt ending[/spoiler].

I certainly wanted to like this film, and perhaps a second viewing will unlock some of its charms, but as a first watch and impression, _Vertigo_ was sadly lacking for such a lauded film by an acclaimed director.

Great! Just great! Nothing else to say!

A classic movie although a bit slow. Some pretty good twists. Easily worth a watch.

There are only two things that bother me about "Vertigo". James Stewart's "Scottie" follows Kim Novak around a little too long. This makes the film drag at the beginning. And Scottie seems too old to be romantically involved with Kim Novak's Madeleine. Other than that this is just masterful.

There is so much to be awed by. The wonderful shots of San Francisco. Scottie's technicolor nightmare. Bernard Herrmann's beautiful score (which is on my short list of favorites). But I think I'm ultimately sold by the overwhelming obsession that Scottie has for Madeleine. It's painful and at first. You feel sorry for him. Then it turns into some pretty disgusting behavior. When Kim Novak's character emerges from behind a locked hotel room door, the way she walks out from a white-green haze is absolutely haunting.

I don't think this is a perfect movie and I know it has recently been voted as the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound. It's not in my Top Ten or anything, but there is so much here that is so good I have no choice but to rate it as high as I can.

These films are 60 years old... They are masterpieces. But time defeats all foes...

What we have here is a masterful screenplay and direction to match. A real whodunit that needs to be paced and spoon-fed to the viewer to get the most mileage from the yarn.

And so it has aged.

Modern viewers will struggle with the slow pacing and over-repetition of the first half. The misogynistic behaviour. The extremely abrupt ending.

Hitchcock made some great films. This is still one of them but it suffers as all his films now do. Time.

I think Rear Window was his masterpiece. It's the one I recall most favorably. I'll have to rewatch that at some point and hope it weathers well.

Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart were a really good pairing. Like De Niro and Scorcese, their best works are intertwined.

7/10

Pure Hitchcock gold. Another masterpiece.

An ending too sad, but excellent film.

My Rating 8
Pros:
Performances
Story
Direction
Never Ending suspense
Cons:
Dull 10 minutes pre Climax
Editing should have been better

One of the most unique and intruigung mystery-thrillers. The well-thought out, perfectly-paced and unpredictable storyline, along with pristine direction and incredible performances made the film a gripping experience from start to finish.

Perhaps this wasn't the best of Hitchcocks movies to start with but I was very unimpressed. Far too many loopholes and empty scenes. I know I shouldn't hold the same societal standards from 2020 to the early 50's, but it was very hard from a females perspective to watch the misognystic role of the helpless wife fully dependent on a man to give her life meaning.