funniculee in Syracuse is doing 39 things including…

Watch all of Alfred Hitchcock's movies

79 cheers

funniculee has written 5 entries about this goal

Strangers on a Train 2 years ago

I really enjoyed this movie thoroughly! Not only is the pacing fabulous, but there are some wonderful shots throughout. The fight on the runaway carosel is a standout of course, but one of my favorite shots is at a tennis match. You see the heads of the crowd going back and forth, and then in the center, one head (Mr. Anthony’s) stock-still, staring at Mr. Haynes. CREEPTACULAR!

Some nice shots of Penn Station, too. All in all a very good film.

Aug 27, 2006, 07:40PM PDT | 3 cheers | 1 comment


_North by Northwest_ 3 years ago

Decent movie – I liked the pacing a whole lot, as well as the cool shots of Chicago. Hitchcock’s cameo is funny as always. The famous crop-duster scene is pretty neat, and also pretty eerie – remind me never to get caught out in the open with no cover at all!

It’s the first movie I’ve seen with James Mason. Now I can truly appreciate Eddie Izzard’s James Mason imitation. Heck, I want to be able to do my own imitation! Mason almost sounds like a caricature of himself, but he has a great voice and prescence for an on-screen villain.

The Mount Rushmore bit comes off as pretty hokey by today’s standards, but I’m sure it was exciting to watch when it first came out. Also, the ending contains the most abrupt cut I’ve ever seen in my life! It almost seems like a shortcut, as if the film had already gone over 2 hours (it’s 2 hrs. 15 min.) and Hitchcock said, “well, gotta wrap this up…” – although an even longer drawn-out ending would have been much worse.

Oct 17, 2005, 10:09AM PDT | 4 cheers | 1 comment


"Rear Window" 3 years ago

Finally!!! Finally I understand why this movie keeps showing up in parodies; it’s one of the more memorable and entertaining Hitchcock movies out there.

Some things I really liked about the movie:

1. its sense of humor.
2. Grace Kelly. Me-YOW!
3. The set of the courtyard, and being able to see into all the rooms; it’s like 6 or 7 little movies in one.
4. The pacing; Hitchcock keeps things moving constantly throughout.
5. The music; unlike some other Hitchcock films, this one has music playing throughout the film. Mostly very appropo selections. It was charming.

I love Jimmy Stewart, even though he’s something of a jerk in this movie.

Aug 15, 2005, 07:46AM PDT | 2 cheers | 11 comments


"Notorious" 3 years ago

I never thought I’d meet a Hitchcock movie I didn’t like. I was wrong.

Disappointing because this movie COULD have been good. It really shouldn’t be advertized as a suspense film – it’s a romantic film with a suspense plot secondary. Sucks. It had so much potential.

The biggest turn-off happened quite early. Bergman starts out hating Grant and then falls instantly, madly in love with him? It was just not believable. I HATE their habit of “close talking” – having a mumbled conversation while they almost-not-quite kiss, for minutes on end. There was no question “is she? isn’t she?” Hello, screenwriter? Uncertainty is a key to drama and suspense! Without it, no one cares.

It would have been far more interesting to NOT have that bit so early on. It was obvious that he was in love with her. They really could have complicated and punched up the Nazi plot. They could have left a question in the audience’s mind whether Bergman would end up with Claude Raines or Cary Grant. As it was, it was hokey and boring.

Some great camera work in places, though. I just wish the plot would have been up to snuff.

Jun 27, 2005, 09:14AM PDT | 0 comments


My roommate and I both want to do this. 3 years ago

And I needed more goals that were fun and not all about total self-improvement. We are truly enamored with his talent for suspense. It’s amazing. You would think that after all the flashy movie-making I’ve been exposed to, I would find these films boring. Nope. Not at all. The writing is just too good. And the actors can…actually ACT.

My favorite thing about Hitchcock is his use of silence to make the audience uncomfortable. Often there is no music for long stretches as the suspense builds. Makes everything a lot more creepy.

To date, I have seen:

Psycho (“Mother?!” Great film. Just great. Don’t bother seeing the remake. This is the only one you need.)

Vertigo (eh, not so much. More mystery than suspense. Kim Novak sure is purty, tho.)

Rope (Love that apartment. Interesting camera work. Jimmy Stewart is now tied with Gregory Peck as my favorite classic actor.)

The Birds (most effective low-tech sound design ever. I liked the schoolteacher character. Too bad she gets her eyes pecked out! and Jessica Tandy is wonderful as always.)

We just found out that our favorite video store has the complete Hitchcock box set. We’ll be working our way through that in the next weeks.

May 31, 2005, 03:50PM PDT | 3 cheers | 4 comments


funniculee has gotten 79 cheers on this goal.

 

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travel to norway learn french get a graduate degree Ayanadnb wants to Lose 20 pounds Get a PSP Publish a novel track my cell phone have a movie marathon get a masters degree travel to New York publish my first scientific paper learn how to drive a manual transmission vehicle learn to sing...GOOD! increase my height stop hating myself Make friends around the world plant a garden write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find Christy MacAuden wants to be part of a team that donates 10 million grains of rice through freerice.com get a scholarship Dance in the rain become a mermaid in the next 1 or 2 weeks my life is great Smartkookie wants to pay off my debt create my own friendster layout with my own picz make more money go to japan find the perfect guy