I can’t really make up my mind about “Vertigo.” While there are some elements that I think are fantastic, I did find it rather slow-paced and overly complicated. There’s so much going on at all times that it can be difficult to keep it all together, and the pace is languid and rather sluggish, making it difficult to stay engaged. James Stewart and Kim Novak don’t share particularly warm chemistry so his character’s overtly emotional response to her feels forced and unnatural. All that being said there’s no denying the strengths of Alfred Hitchcock’s typically masterful direction, from the inventive shots to the pseudo-psychedelic inserts that still fascinate after all this time, and there are some truly thrilling scenes here and there.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
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