Top 10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies

This semester, I have had the privilege of taking a class all about the Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock, arguably the greatest director ever to work in cinema. One of the main takeaways of the course was how versatile Hitchcock was as a filmmaker, not only in terms of genre, but also in the fascinating way he plays with narrative. The class made me appreciate his classics even more, introduced me to some of his lesser-known flicks, and consequently made me despise some of his more studied films (here's looking at you, Marnie). He has created some of the scariest, most suspenseful movies of all time, and of course I knew from the onset of the class that I would be making this Top 10 list by the end. I explored even more than the 14 films featured in the class, and found that though conceptually some are interesting, his execution isn't always perfect (he is only human after all). For my opinions and complete rankings of Hitchcock from Best to Worst, click here to check out my Letterboxd site, with posters and a definitive rating. And now, without holding you in suspense for any longer, here is my analysis of the Top 10 Alfred Hitchcock movies of all time!

10. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

This is one of the goofiest movies you'll ever see, and it's all in the guise of an international mystery. Never before or since has a train felt equally claustrophobic and wide open, and it's all in the way Hitchcock directs his players form one end to the other. The movie is Hitchcock's last in Britain before moving to Hollywood in 1940, and The Lady Vanishes feels like a proper send off to the overt British-ness Hitchcock loved to poke fun at (the entire premise of the film revolves around the fact that the enemies know every British person on the train is going to be at tea at a certain time- it's so ridiculous if you think about it). It's hilarious, and features spot-on chemistry between Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave as strangers who get caught up in this whole affair entirely by coincidence. On that note, there's a certain kind of pleasure in having no lead character for the first 20 minutes; we get a nice overview of everyone pretty quickly, and it's great fun to see how all these characters interact throughout the plot. On a more somber note, the story accurately predicts the state of the world only a few years later during World War II, and shows great foresight on the part of Hitchcock.

9. Lifeboat (1944)

One of Hitchcock's lesser known films is a great directorial triumph, in ways both similar and incredibly different than anything else in his entire filmography. The movie takes place entirely on a tiny lifeboat with eight passengers who survive an attack on their battleship, and they must figure out a way to survive and trust each other (which is easier said than done, once they discover that a Nazi is among their ranks). Hitchcock gives just about equal screen time between the survivors, and each has a very distinct and relevant personality. All the cast's quirks and chemistry feels very realistic, in a way Hitchcock so rarely replicates in his oftentimes exaggerated movies. There's no star dominating the narrative (with the obvious exception of Tallulah Bankhead, who's character is really supposed to be over the top), and that allows for some really great acting to shine. Hitchcock's requisite cameo in the film is also hysterical if you can catch it!

8. Rebecca (1940)

Hitchcock's only win for Best Picture didn't even earn him an Oscar. His producer, the legendary David O. Selznick, won the award, after dominating the previous year's ceremony with Gone with the Wind. Rebecca feels like the appropriate follow up to that titan of a film, as it's a sprawling epic amidst gorgeous architecture and extravagant costuming. With Rebecca, Hitch found a source material that was an engaging mystery, a haunting love story, and a great set piece for Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) to chew up and steal the show. Too bad about that last half hour, which shifts the tone to a courtroom drama not even focusing on the second Mrs. de Winter (Joan Fontaine). If the film ended on a tragic note, with Mrs. Danvers whispering into Mrs. de Winter's ear, then this may be Hitchcock's greatest triumph. But alas, the film falls flat at the end; but don't be discouraged from watching it- it's still a sweeping spectacle that keeps you guessing how it will all turn out, and is really the only "epic" film to come from the Master.

7. Dial M for Murder (1954)

In the 1950's, film companies started looking for ways to compete with the impeding threat of the television. They introduced wide screen that wouldn't translate to square boxes, and they also pushed the invention of 3D filmmaking. Hitchcock was assigned this new type of technological development, and Dial M for Murder is the result. It's not that it even needs the three dimensions in order to tell its story- at it's heart, it's really just a murder mystery, yet another gem in the "perfect murder" series exemplified by Hitchcock's classics. But the 3D works in a way that's not flashy, but emotionally defining of the characters in the apartment. It adds a layer of depth without cheap 3D gimmicks (for the most part), and focuses on the plot twists first and foremost. It's great fun to see Ray Milland scheme and sneak around the fact that he tries to murder his wife, and figure out how they're going to catch him by the end. It's full of delicious double meanings and puns about death- overall the most wonderful and perfect textbook example of Hitchcock's famous "perfect murder" franchise of pictures.

6. North by Northwest (1959)

The Master's return to the "wrong man" narrative is his best example of how pleasurable seeing a Hitchcock movie can be. There's not a lot of academic merit to this one, and doesn't really further any longstanding argument about the state of the world. Instead, what North by Northwest offers is a great sense of entertainment and infectious joy that comes from seeing a movie. The undeniable charm of Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint's ice-cold portrayal of the girl, the frequent travel, and an international mystery that becomes fairly forgettable once a few things start blowing up clearly inspired the James Bond franchise, so at the very least we can thank the film for that. Plus there's more double entendres and hilarious quips than one knows what to do with. It's hard not to love North by Northwest really, and from the opening credits it delivers on its promise of providing one of the best escapist films ever produced.

5. Notorious (1946)

In my opinion, Notorious is Hitchcock's sexiest movie. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman are next to perfect in the film, and their nose nudging scene is just wonderful. In fact, it wouldn't have existed without that pesky Hays Code; Hitchcock wanted to subvert the censors by not breaking their rule of three-second kisses, so he had Bergman and Grant break every few seconds to nuzzle each other before resuming their make-out session. That's one of the two famous scenes from the movie, the other of course being the high-angle to close-up zoom of the key in Bergman's hand during a party. Claude Rains is also marvelous in easily his best role besides Casablanca, and the international intrigue angle of us vs. the Nazis is in full effect here. It's a neat spy movie, and one that feels both geuninely threatening and suspenseful. If you haven't seen Notorious, be sure to check it out!

4. Rear Window (1954)

What's not to love about Rear Window? Jimmy Stewart is arguably never better, and Grace Kelly is clearly having the time of her life. Plus, the movie's thin allegory as what it feels like to go to the movies is actually a really fascinating argument into society's obsession with voyeurism. It also begs interesting questions about what we do in these situations, and how we make judgements about what we see from afar without knowing the whole story. It's got some great shots, and Hitchcock scares the crap out of us without ever leaving Jefferie's apartment. I challenge you to find a movie that does this to any better effect, but I doubt you'll find one that's more entertaining and enlightening than Rear Window.

3. Rope (1948)

Rope remains one of Hitchcock's most experimental pictures, as it is designed a la Birdman to look like one continuous shot. Of course, this wasn't really possible in 1948, so there's some really cheesy cuts that happen when we zoom in on someone's backside; but hey, he actually tried, and it doesn't look half bad. What makes Rope truly spectacular is the way it features two gay men as the protagonists, unabashedly homosexual in a time where it would be a crime to admit it. Of course, these two (John Dall and Farley Granger, both gay in real life) are murderers. However, what's truly special about the film is how little Hitchcock cares about their sexual orientation; he gives them easily the juiciest parts in the film (and that's with some stellar supporting characters), and no one in the narrative seems to care that much about the fact than Brandon and Phillip are lovers. It's only through their murder, and of course Jimmy Stewart's obnoxious and prying eyes, that they get punished for their actions. The humor and death puns are never better here, and of course Hitchcock can't help but throw in some phallic objects for the protagonists to humorously stroke. Rope is one of Hitchcock's most undervalued films, but I beg you to seek out this movie more than any other on this list. It's an important, fun, fast-paced, and darkly wonderful little movie in Hitchcock's oeuvre that truly succeeds.

2. Psycho (1960)

From the opening orchestra's famous theme song, all the way to the checkered finale, Psycho keeps you on the edge of your seat. I've always loved Psycho and have discussed it at length on this blog before, but this recent classroom experience has made me fall in love with it even more. The main reason for this is that ignoring spoilers or how many times you've seen the movie, there is NO warning that Marion's shower scene will happen. Hitchcock punishes the viewer for playing detective (a trick they ironically learned by watching Hitchcock's films), killing off the main character thirty minutes into the film. There's no warning about who Norman Bates really is, and the film miraculously fools you into thinking each time you watch it that Marion will live; there's simply no way to not think that, as the evidence simply isn't there. All rules are thrown out the window once Marion dies, and you just have to go on the roller coaster with no hope of solving the case. The camera is also like a child in this picture, aimlessly choosing people to follow and becoming very sad once someone dies (watch the way it moves after the shower scene- it walks around looking for someone to follow until it reaches Norman)- you've never seen a camera so personified like a person as you do in Psycho. The film is bloody brilliant in every sense of the world, and taking this class further proves why many consider it to be Hitchcock's best film...

1. Vertigo (1958)

...however, as recently exemplified in many polls, Vertigo has begun to dominate the lists of the best films ever made. Hitchcock's masterpiece works against his normal conventions in much more subtle ways than Psycho, and it's much harder to get into Vertigo than his slasher flick. But, if you're patient, you'll realize there's never enough time to say all you want to say about Vertigo. Looking past it's twisty and unpredictable narrative, and beyond the stalker-like tendencies of Jimmy Stewart's character (though there's PLENTY to say about that), Vertigo is for my money one of the best films ever made. It's flawless in its execution, whether it be through set design, costuming, acting, writing, direction, production, editing, cinematography, sound design, music, or any multitude of different filmmaking techniques. Heck, the final transformation of Judy into Madeline, with the blonde hairdo done the right way and the green lights shining on her face, is one of my favorite movie scenes EVER. The more you watch it, the more you'll fall in love with it. It sucks you into the dark and seedy underbelly of manhood, and threatens to destroy you if you let it. Vertigo is that rare kind of movie that never ages, never feels irrelevant, and never quite meets its match. It was a box office bomb in 1958, but French critics reevaluated it as Hitchcock's masterpiece (thank you Laura Mulvey for putting it back on the radar) later down the line. You have to see Vertigo more than once, as you'll pick up on so much more the second time around. It's not everyone's favorite, but it's certainly mine; it's not as fun as Psycho, not as silly as North by Northwest, and not as suspenseful as Rear Window. But for my money, Vertigo is arguably the best movie ever made. It lets you fall in love with the movies every time you watch it, and you'll never want to stop talking about it. And really, isn't that the point of going to the movies?

Thanks for reading everyone, and once again click the link at the top of this post to see my complete rundown rankings of all the Hitchcock movies I've seen!

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ranked from Worst to Best

This weekend, every person in America will likely be planning on seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron, the continuation of one of the most successful film franchises of all time. Adapting Marvel properties has proven to be a massive success, with the studio combing through some of their most popular, most exciting, and most unique projects and bringing them to life on the silver screen. I am a diehard fan of Marvel comics, and love their combination of mindless action and intelligent humor. A Marvel movie has opened the summer for several years now, and this summer is no exception: we have a new Marvel movie, so it's time for summer 2015! I thought a fun way to celebrate the release of Age of Ultron would be to look back at all the franchise's previous installments so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and rank them from worst to best. I adore the way all these movies interact with each other in the universe, and I consider them all one story; however, here are all of the missteps, time-proven formulas, and innovative techniques that make each film unique. Let's get started off to a MARVELous weekend with this list! (NOTE: This list ONLY includes films that are part of MCU, and therefore do not include Fox properties like X-Men or Fantastic Four, nor Sony-owned Spider-Man.)

10. Thor: The Dark World (Alan Taylor, 2013)

Easily the weakest installment of the MCU so far is this shrug-ish Thor sequel. Phoned in at its best and just downright lazy at its worst, The Dark World suffers from having to follow on the heels of very successful films before it (Thor, Avengers, and Iron Man 3). The villain is so lackluster (something about a dark elf) that we hardly even care that his plan will plunge the universe into everlasting darkness (how lame of a story is that???). Natalie Portman's character, Jane Foster, gets reduced to a mere damsel-in-distress role, having nothing interesting to say or do throughout the narrative. Even Chris Hemsworth clearly loses some confidence in Thor this time around, and Anthony Hopkins just looks downright bored. The only good use of characters in the film include Tom Hiddleston's delicious Loki (who steals the show in every scene he's in), and a surprisingly hilarious Kat Dennings as Darcy- Jane's intern who was a throwaway character in the first installment. Thor 2 is largely devoid of interesting action sequences, and does not even attempt to throw plot twists or any sort of jazz into the script. I will say this- it does effectively play for comedy during the final battle sequence, but even that ultimately serves to remind us how laughable this movie remains. 

9. The Incredible Hulk (Louis Leterrier, 2008)

Coming off the heels of Iron Man must have been no easy feat, but Marvel seems genuinely caught off-guard in the only Hulk film so far. Edward Norton is awfully cast as the titular character, and has about zero chemistry with Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. William Hurt (as General "Thunderbolt" Ross) and Tim Roth (Emil "Abomination" Blonsky) actually do have a lot of fun in their scenes, and take the actions of their characters very seriously. The climactic Hulk vs. Abomination battle is actually a lot of fun in hindsight, and works well with some of the nicer touches in the picture (Robert Downey, Jr.'s cameo at the end, the foregoing of a nonsensical origin story, and small hints of SHIELD and what's to come in the MCU). It's fairly bland and humor-less when compared with other movies in the franchise, but Incredible Hulk really isn't as bad as you remember it. It's certainly better than that Ang Lee disaster in 2003. 

8. Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston, 2011)

Captain America has the potential to be a really lame/narcissistic character, and before Joss Whedon figured out what to do with him in The Avengers... well, he was. The first Cap film succeeds at introducing us to a likable hero in Chris Evans, and squares him off against a Nazi bad guy (played by the so-so Hugo Weaving) who's face proves more menacing that he actually is. The plot is also fairly difficult to follow, not that it particularly matters- because we pretty much know how this is going to go down. Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter and Tommy Lee Jones' Col. Phillips are both really cool and hilarious characters, and there's a lot to be said for Dominic Cooper bringing Tony Stark's father Howard to life, and for Toby Jones' still-creepy portrayal of Red Skull's henchman; but, they all get sidelined in favor of Captain Righteous and Captain Megalomanic. The World War II production design is gorgeous, however, and Johnston takes care in crafting a world that seems realistic for this universe, and still evocative to the 1940s itself. This movie mostly harmless, but overall does nothing to excite me in any meaningful way. 

7. Iron Man 3 (Shane Black, 2013)

This movie brings forth an interesting conundrum to the usual MCU formula: I typically love watching movies over and over again, and the MCU flicks remain no exception (I can't even tell you how many times I've seen the first two Iron Man films or The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy). However, after falling in love with Iron Man 3 when it came out two summers ago, I just recently re-watched it- and find that it doesn't really hold up well to repeated viewings. The twist about the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) still comes out of nowhere in a really positive way, and the fact that the film deals with Tony Stark's PTSD following the events of The Avengers makes TOTAL sense on why it would happen, and I'm so glad Marvel took a chance to pursue that storyline. That being said, Guy Pierce is kind of a train-wreck as the villain, seeming to go nowhere even by the end. For the most realistic of the Marvel properties in the MCU, the Extremis story can only go so far without seeming ridiculous- which it ultimately does by the end. Gwenyth Paltrow and Don Cheadle- whom I typically love in these movies- get terrible roles in this installment, and lose a lot of their heart and humor that drove them throughout the franchise up to this point. However, with all this in mind, Iron Man has always been about the titular character, and Robert Downey, Jr. does give a heck of a performance in this movie. He thankfully loses his devil-may-care attitude in favor of a more humanizing and well-rounded hero. Oh, and his chemistry with Ty Simpkins is on point. 

6. Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008)

Marvel's first film thankfully holds up really well on repeated viewings; and, of course, the fact that it started this whole obsession cannot be overlooked. It features a pitch-perfect performance from Downey, his comeback role that propelled him to one of the most bankable stars on the planet. It's freaking hilarious at points, and downright silly in others- both trademarks of a good Marvel movie. Iron Man is not without its problems, however, as Terrence Howard largely sucks as Rhodie (a role that Don Cheadle thankfully takes over later), and the final battle scene between Iron Monger and Iron Man is largely lackluster (though that does come from the fact that Iron Man really just has terrible villains in the comics to work with). Nevertheless, it's easy to overlook some of these glaring issues in favor of watching Jeff Bridges have a ton of glee playing Obadiah Stane, and Gwenyth Paltrow fits in better than expected as Stark's personal assistant, Pepper Potts. Also, shout out to Paul Bettany for playing JARVIS, Stark's sassy computer and character staple, who plays the faceless role with such ease and grace that it'd be weird to watch these movies without him. The opening sequence is more exciting than it has any right to be, and genuine emotions fuel the entire story. Iron Man also introduced us to fan favorite character Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), as well as Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, asking Stark about something called an "Avengers Initiative". 

5. Thor (Kenneth Branagh, 2011)

When Branagh signed on to direct Thor, it left many heads scratching (mine included)- why on Earth would a noted Shakespearean dramatist do a superhero movie? Once we saw the film, however, we no longer wondered what he was doing here. Thor works as a Shakespearean superhero film, filled with several themes of The Bard, including family turmoil, the presence of gods in our everyday lives, and not being able to move past one's destiny. Chris Hemsworth convinces us as Thor, a vain god who can't see past the glories of battle when trapped on Earth for a war he purposely caused. While Hiddleston is still testing the waters as Loki, he nevertheless introduces us to one of the best villains of the MCU thus far. However, the real crowning achievement is Anthony Hopkins, who gives a nuanced and rich portrayal as Odin- ruler of Asgard and Thor and Loki's father. Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgard also deliver admirable performances, making us truly empathize with their excitement about finding an alien on Earth. Thor's journey from vain child to "worthy" prince is a blast to watch unfold, and presents a fun treatment of Shakespeare for the comic book crowd. 

4. Iron Man 2 (Jon Favreau, 2010)

Ok, I KNOW I'm getting get some flack for ranking this one so high, but hear me out: I think Iron Man 2 is one of the most fun, exciting, and comical adventures an Avenger has faced thus far. Sure, the RDJ drunk party bit goes on a little too long, but that fight with Rhodie in the War Machine suit is so worth the wait. Plus, we get Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke being so ridiculously ludicrous it's hard not to love them. This is the film with the best chemistry between Downey and Paltrow, and all of their lines glimmer with the fast-paced hilarity that proved so resilient in the Katherine Hepburn-Cary Grant movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The special effects are top notch here, and the final battle scene seems neither tedious or stupid- it's genuinely a ton of fun to watch unfold. Scarlett Johansson is fantastically cast as the deadpan Black Widow, and her role in this, while limited, does give us hope that we will see great things from her down the line (which, of course, we do). This movie plays mostly for laughs, but unlike Thor 2, sprinkles in some of the most serious material the MCU has ever put out (Tony's alcoholism, his relationship with his father, and the turmoil Tony inflicts on Pepper by putting her in charge of the organization). Iron Man is arguably my favorite Avenger, and this is the movie where we really solidified how fun he can be. Can you honestly say that you didn't have a smile on your face the entire film? 

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Anthony and Joe Russo, 2014)

I'm a huge proponent for SHIELD-driven stories, and political thrillers are always a fun genre to explore. The Russo brothers bring both of these to the forefront in a shockingly effective way with The Winter Soldier, becoming our best look into the corrupt organization so far. The Russos also realize something very important about Captain America: on his own, he's kind of a lame superhero, but when used as the lens for a much larger story, can be wonderfully effective. And so it is for Captain America 2, which basically throws him into this much larger world without ever feeling like the whole movie is revolved around him. Of course, we do get some inspired performances from Johansson's Black Widow and Jackson's Nick Fury, as well as one from newcomer Anthony Mackie as Falcon, to help balance out the responsibility of headlining the picture. The thrills are here and in full effect in Winter Soldier, and with the weird exception of the titular bad guy (who is fairly uninteresting in the already cluttered storyline), the villain are all marvelous. Robert Redford would typically feel somewhat out of place in the MCU, but as a high-ranking SHIELD agent, he not only tethers us to the 1970's political thrillers that inspired Winter Soldier, but also provides a good acting job from a legend. The plot-twists are fairly unpredictable, and though we never question specific characters' loyalties, we nevertheless feel swept up in the chaos of a government agency gone wild. It's a stellar episode in the Cinematic Universe, and one that hopefully paves the way for more ensemble-driven thrillers in the future. 

2. Guardians of the Galaxy (James Gunn, 2014)

Tell me you're not singing "Hooked on a Feeling" immediately after seeing the poster to this film. Marvel's most brilliant marketing ever convinced audiences to come in droves to see Guardians of the Galaxy, but its staying power in the North American box office came from incredibly strong word-of-mouth. GOG is a fast-paced roller coaster that never lets up, introducing us to an almost entirely-new cast filled with acting titans and relative newcomers. It's goofiness works really well to propel the film as an action-comedy that gives viewers immense satisfaction from beginning to end. It came out of nowhere, as well; aside from a few Marvel fans, hardly anyone knew anything about the Guardians. Now, that's all people can talk about, as it successfully reminds audiences how fun the MCU can really be. The soundtrack "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" is perfect, and drives the movie in terms of both narrative and general excitement. I can speak for days about the AMAZING performances by Chris Pratt (Star Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Bradley Cooper (Rocket Raccoon), Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer), and Vin Diesel (Groot), but I'll leave you to your fond memories instead. 

1. The Avengers (Joss Whedon, 2012)

Really no surprise here, but the film that really solidified the awesomeness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was The Avengers. I already spoke praises of the cast, so I'll focus instead on how perfectly they mesh together. Their chemistry is practically flawless, and it's a special kind of joy seeing all six (including the yet-unmentioned Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye) Avengers interact with each other on the Helicarrier. The movie is also funnier than most modern comedies, and leaves you busting a gut for nearly the whole film. A film is only as good as its villain, however, and Hiddleston functions beautifully as a seemingly menacing, yet not that good of, a villain. His role reminds us of reading the comics and watching the animated series as a kid, and getting a particular type of glee from seeing the superheroes conquer the bad guys. No where in sight is the angsty and brooding darkness evocative of most superhero franchises, but instead Marvel succeeds at first and foremost allowing us to have a good time. The special effects are extraordinary, and the Battle of New York is easily the best sequence of any Marvel film thus far. The Avengers successfully proves that you can create a blockbuster with heart, wit, intensity, intelligence, and overall joy without ever compromising a sense of fun. And ultimately, that's what superhero movies are for: to give us the best time possible, and to allow us to escape into a world with super soldiers, men in iron suits, aliens, and megalomaniac villains. If Age of Ultron is half as good as The Avengers, then we're in for a cinematic treat unlike any other. 

Well, that's my list! Check in next week for the hardest Top 10 list I've ever had to make: the Top 10 Alfred Hitchcock movies!