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isay · 4 years

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Thanks to @toddthefoxydog and @sallydoodle for tagging me on this one, and commiserations to the rest of you who now have to put up with my poor choice of movies. Seven eh? Well this is actually a bit harder than I first thought because some of the movies I used to love have not aged particularly well, I first noticed this a couple of years ago when I was rewatching Casino Royale and it just seemed that the editing seemed just a beat off, anyhoo let’s persist shall we?

So Bond movies, there has to be a Bond movie and I am going to choose Diamonds are Forever because as problematic as Bond is, this one featuring Plenty O’Toole (and a story/script by Roahl Dahl) is probably my favourite of all (really people forget about OHMSS, it’s not aged well) While Skyfall is undoubtedly the best of the Daniel Craig efforts and a fine modern thriller.

I’m also going to choose Jaws as my number two film, even now over 40 years on it still never fails to make me jump with the underwater boat sequence and has taken on a new significance as the world has struggled with ‘closing the beaches’ this year. For the record, the mayor is not the hero of this movie. He is an asshole.

My favourite movie of the last few years, and I am unanimous in this, has to be Mission Impossible: Fallout, the plotting is tight, the set pieces are absolutely brilliantly done and it has overtones of some of the best of Michael Mann’s work, especially with the Paris kidnap sequence which echoes the bank robbery/gunfight in Heat.

That’s three right? Ok next stop, Hitchcock. For me that has to be North by Nortwest. Cary Grant at the height of his powers, James Mason as the bad guy and that unforgettable sequence in the cornfield with a crop duster. Brilliant cinematography and of course a throbbing score by Bernard Hermann. Perfect Sunday afternoon viewing.

Musicals? Singing in the Rain. There is a reason this regularly appears in those best of lists, and it’s also given both me and the girl child hours of fun in just shouting at each other “I caaaannn’t staaaanndd it”. And remember kids, dignity, always dignity.

The Fall by Tarsem Singh is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I had the pleasure of seeing this on the big screen a few years ago and if I had a 4k tv it would be one to watch while sitting way to close to. It’s the story of a paralysed stunt man and a little girl he tells stories to while she visits him as they both recover in a hospital in the early days of Hollywood. If you’ve never seen it, it really is worth a look.

One more, and while I’d like to choose something by Christopher Nolan (if I were to it would probably be Inception, although Heath Ledger’s performance in the Dark Knight elevates that movie to another level), but I’m going to choose instead a film about of all things, baseball. Or at least it is on the surface, but really Bull Durham is about much more than that, it’s about life and disappointment and how we deal with that and carry on, and Walt Whitman and double standards and sexuality and basically everything in life. It bears repeated viewing, or at least it did, I haven’t watched it in years, because, well life, but maybe it’s worth a rewatch at some time. I’m sure I could still pretty much recite a lot of the scenes by rote.

There’s a bunch of other stuff I could definitely put in a list, Alien, Aliens, Galaxy Quest, Up, The Incredibles or many of the Pixar movies which are mostly delightful (except Cars which is utter utter shite). Some of David Fincher’s output and maybe even some Kubrick (Barry Lyndon is my favourite) and the original Point Break by Kathryn Bigelow, with Swayze and a young Keanu. No Marvel movies but if there were it would be Captain America: Winter Soldier, because Cap punches Nazis no matter what they call themselves and Tony Stark is an asshole regardless of whether you think he died for your sins. Thor: Ragnarok would probably get an honourable mention for Hemsworth’s comic timing.

Anyway I only got asked for seven so there you go. Consider yourself tagged if you haven’t already done this.

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introvertguide · 4 years

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North by Northwest (1959); AFI #55

The next film for review was the Hitchcock classic North by Northwest (1959). This movie has possibly the most well known surprise attack scene in American cinema involving a crop duster. I know, it sounds great. The film was moderately successful at the box office and marked the one and only time that Alfred Hitchcock worked with MGM. It was also only one of two VistaVision films made at the studio. Hitchcock was not a man to let studios mess with his work, so he famously refused to cut 15 minutes out of the movie for time and instead cut a total of 5 seconds worth of material. Before I go into any more detail, I feel like this is bordering quickly on spoilers so let me get the warning and the synopsis out of the way:

SPOILER ALERT!!!! THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE THAT I KNOW VERY WELL AND FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE SEEN BEFORE IT IS DISCUSSED!!! I AM GOING TO GO OVER THE FILM IN GREAT DETAIL SO CHECK IT OUT BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!!!

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The whole story begins with a case of mistaken identity. Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is an advertising executive who is going to lunch to have a business meeting. He sits down and then remembers he needs to phone his mother so he summons the waiter to ask about a phone. Apparently the waiter had just received a call for a spy named George Kaplan and some thugs are waiting for a signal that will identify the man. Thornhill’s signal is mistaken for the spy’s and the thugs move in and take away the ad exec at gunpoint. They go to the home of U.N. Diplomat Lester Townsend and Thornhill is interrogated by a spy named Philip Vandamm (James Mason) and his right hand man Leonard (Martin Landau). Thornhill tries to say he is innocent, but Vandamm and the thugs do not believe him and stage his death by drunken car accident. Thornhill survives and escapes by car, but he is still drunk and is subsequently stopped and arrested by the Glen Cove police for drunk driving.

Thornhill sleeps off his intoxication at the station and calls his mother to get in contact with their lawyer. The next day, Thornhill tells the local court everything that he remembers happening, but nobody believes him. He even takes them back to the house and a woman claiming to be Townsend’s wife acts like Thornhill was there for a party and left drunk. Thornhill has to pay the fine (a whole $2), but he is still curious.

Thornhill and his mother go back to the restaurant where he was kidnapped and finagle their way up into the attached hotel to find the real spy, George Kaplan. It turns out that nobody has ever seen this man in person so everybody just assumes that Thornhill is Kaplan since he showed up at the room. The thugs have returned and try to recapture Thornhill still thinking he is Kaplan, but Thornhill is able to escape. He goes and visits the UN to talk to Townsend in an effort to shine a light on the situation, but Townsend is confused and says that his wife died many years ago. Suddenly, a knife is thrown into the back of Townsend and all the witnesses around think that Thornhill did it as there is nobody else to blame. Thornhill again escapes and is now running away and trying to find Kaplan in hopes of clearing his name.

I very quick scene of an American intelligence agency meeting reveals that Kaplan never existed and that this was a made up spy to keep Vandamm occupied while they figure out his plans. It is unfortunate for Thornhill, but all agree that he will have to become Kaplan and more than likely die by the hands of Vandamm and his men. Thornhill is unaware of this meeting and continues to run around looking for this non-existent spy.

Thornhill is able to sneak on a train to go to Chicago since he believes that Kaplan is at a hotel there. He runs into a lovely blonde named Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) who seems aggressively interested in him and wants to help him hide out. She knows that he is the man who is being blamed for the murder of the UN diplomat and she seems to want to sleep with him (like a groupie)? She is very straight forward and it turns out that this is because she is working for Vandamm, who is also on the train.

In the morning, Eve helps Thornhill arrange a meeting with the non-existent Kaplan at an isolated rural bus stop outside of the Chicago. Thornhill gets there and finds...nothing? A guy shows up but he is just waiting for the next bus. The only thing around is a biplane crop duster that seems to be dusting empty fields. It dramatically turns and swoops down at Thornhill firing a backloaded machine gun. Thornhill is able to hide in the fields and then manages to get under a passing oil truck, which the biplane smashes into and eventually explodes.

Thornhill steals a truck and reaches Kaplan's hotel in Chicago to discover that Kaplan had already checked out and left before the time when Eve claimed she talked to him on the phone. Thornhill goes to her room and confronts her and she plays naïve. She tries to run away while he is changing clothes, but he quickly follows her down to an auction where he finds her with Vandamm. He insults her coldly and then makes his escape from Vandamm by turning himself in, but the police strangely won’t take him to the station and instead leave him in the care of a man simply called The Professor (Lee Carroll).

The professor finally reveals to Thornhill that Kaplan doesn’t exist and that Eve is actually a government agent working for the U.S. It is also explained that Vandamm has some sort of evidence/information that he is trying to take out of the country and will be leaving by plane from his South Dakota home that is in the woods right next to Mount Rushmore. The Professor leaves Thornhill to play the role of Kaplan and negotiates for Eve at the Mount Rushmore visitor center and she seemingly shoots him to look good in front of Vandamm. Luckily the gun is loaded with blanks (remember this gun, it will come back).

Afterwards, the Professor arranges for Thornhill and Eve to meet and Thornhill learns that she must depart with Vandamm and Leonard on a plane. When Thornhill tries to dissuade her from going, he is knocked unconscious by another one of The Professor’s men and locked in a hospital room. Thornhill is able to escape (he gets out of everything) custody and goes to Vandamm's house to rescue Eve from leaving.

At the house, Thornhill sneaks around and overhears that the sculpture that Vandamm bought at the auction holds some kind of microfilm. Leonard also reveals to Vandamm that the gun was a blank and it is decided that Eve will be killed on the plane. Thornhill must keep Eve from getting on the plane so he gives her a note revealing the plot. She is being lead out to the plane and she makes a break for it, meets Thornhill, and they climb out on to Mount Rushmore to escape. The Professor rushes in with his men and arrests Vandamm while also shooting Leonard.

Unfortunately, Eve has slipped climbing around on the president faces and Thornhill is attempting to pull her back to safety when...he is now suddenly pulling her onto a foldout train bed and he is calling her Mrs. Thornhill. The train enters a tunnel and the movie ends.

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This was the fourth and lowest rated Hitchcock film on the AFI top 100, but I opine that it is the most fun. The constant escapes and the almost relatable situation of a businessman getting wrapped up in something of which he wanted no part of makes this a very easy watch. There really are no slow points in this film and the action is punctuated by good comedy. Drunken Thornhill trying to explain what happened and then desperately bidding at an auction to bide time for an escape his hilarious. My favorite line in the film is when Thornhill and The Professor are waiting at the Mount Rushmore visitor center and Thornhill looks through a viewing scope and says “I don’t like the way that Teddy Roosevelt is looking at me.” That is awesome.

As much as Alfred Hitchcock was the Master of Suspense and the King of Dramatic Climax...his endings aren’t generally very good. He did a terrific job wrapping up Rear Window (1954), making sure all storylines were finished, but he really didn’t end North by Northwest (1959), Vertigo (1958), or The Birds (1963). The movie Psycho (1960) did have an ending, but it was an exposition dump that really was the low part of the film. I love all of these films and the suspenseful build-ups to the dramatic climaxes are extraordinary and put them in a class of their own, but I would not call Hitchcock one to demand a satisfying resolution.

I know that I have done it for every one of the Hitchcock movies on the AFI list, but I again want to give a shout to Saul Bass for the opening credits and Bernard Hermann for the score. The intro to a Hitchcock film puts you in the mood for a good story and the score keeps you interested all the way to the end.

There were some questions from my parents as well as from a couple of viewers about the biplane scene. How was it that the plane passed by and then machine gun fire followed? Well, the plane was a N3N Canary, also known as the “Yellow Peril,” and was a tandem seat training biplane that had an open cockpit. This means that there had to be a a guy in the back with a gun shooting backwards. These were generally converted for agricultural use at the end of WW2. The plane that blew up was a different plane (a Stearman Boeing Model 75 trainer) that was also used as an agricultural duster. Empire magazine rated this scene as the greatest movie moment of all time.

Now that the group has been watching so many movies from Old Hollywood, it became apparent to me how extraordinarily dirty the language was on the train between Roger and Eve. I remember reviewing this film in a college film course and the professor commenting over the scene. She mentioned that this was the only scene of the film that had any cuts and they were made by Hitchcock himself. I also remember Eva Marie Saint saying she was 26 and the professor said, “Ha! Plus 10!” This was a mid 20s female character (played by an actress in her 30s) trying to actively bed a character in his mid 40s (played by an actor in his 50s) who she has just met and spent a total of 5 minutes with. It was all sorts of awkward, and it was great.

So. Should this move be on the AFI top 100? Yes. Probably higher in rank. I was just thinking of another Cary Grant film that is higher on the list, The Philadelphia Story (1940), and how this film is so much more fun. I think that there are other Hitchcock films like Rebecca (1940) and The Birds (1963) that could be on this list, but I guess 4 films from a director that isn’t American is a good representation. North by Northwest is definitely a deserving example. Would I recommend it? Yes. Heck, you can borrow my copy as long as you bring it back. I have seen the film probably two dozen times in the last 20 years and I would be happy to see it again if it means somebody can experience it for the first time. I highly recommend checking it out for yourself.

#alfred hitchcock #cary grant #eva marie saint #james mason #north by northwest #afi top 100 movies #movie review #film critique #synopsys #best movie scenes #introvert #introverts #film stills #spoilers

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sunriseverse · 4 years

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Is this someting that you would be open to writing? "He was beautiful and ridiculous and alive, seated on the sofa beside Hermann on an Earth that didn’t end."

ahahhahaha this is literally over five months late rip

They're sitting on a set; some big-name news channel or other that Hermann can't remember the name of; it's not like he's watched the news in the last five years—been a bit busy helping to save the world for that.

The lights are shining, hot, above them; Newton, by his side, shifts; presses a comforting palm to his leg.

"We're live in two minutes, gentleman," says the interviewer, not meeting either of their gazes; she's checking something on a clipboard—interview questions, probably. She hasn't given her name—or maybe she has, and Hermann just can't remember it. Either one is just as likely as the other.

"You finally get to be the rockstar you always wanted," Hermann murmurs to Newton, quietly.

Hermann opens his mouth to add something—an admonishment, maybe, but before he can, Newton says, "Ah, wait, your collar's crooked—" and leans forward to fix it; clever fingers deftly readjusting it and smoothing it down. "There," he says.

After a moment of barely breathing, Hermann croaks, "Thank you."

That's all the time they have, because then the interviewer is setting her clipboard aside and the cameras are rolling and she's asking Newton something about his work in the War and Hermann's tasting blood and fear when she says kaiju.

"Yeah, well," Newton shrugs, "I mean, it wasn't easy, I'll admit—our funding was being cut all the time, but we made do."

"You are a genius, after all," Hermann points out, instinctively, and then remembers they're being filmed and flushes. Newton turns his head to give Hermann a surprised, but pleased look.

"Doctor Gottlieb," says the interviewer, "how was your experience working for the PPDC?"

Terrible, Hermann very nearly says, and then remembers that this interviewing business is to boost the public's opinion of the PPDC, and instead says, "Newton is a horrible lab partner. I don't know how many times I had to file complaints about him."

"Three-hundred-and-twenty-two," Newton says, matter-of-factly, to her. Hermann glances at him, wide-eyed. "What? I got emails from the HR department every time you submitted one!"

"I can't believe you can remember that but not that kaiju blood reacts adversely with caffeine," Hermann mutters.

The rest of the interview goes fine; they give witty one-liners—Newton—and responses that are more or less scripted—Hermann. By the time it's over, he feels stifled in the hot air of the room; the clothes he's been poked and prodded into are stiff, and his face feels caked with the makeup they put on him pre-filming.

The interviewer says something—a joke, Hermann thinks, though he's not particularly paying attention—, and Newton laughs, and Hermann's looking at him, and then Hermann's looking at him, anew.

He is beautiful and ridiculous and alive, seated on the sofa beside Hermann on an Earth that didn't end; and Hermann never planned for this; never planned for this; doesn't know what to do with himself.

"Herms?" Newton asks, catching his gaze, "do I have something on my face?"

"...n—no," Hermann croaks, eventually; mouth suddenly dry.

"Hmm," Newton hums, and then rises. "Well, it's time for us to go, so I hope you're not lying—otherwise that entire interview is going to have me with something on my face, and if it does, I am not going to be happy."

"I wouldn't do that," Hermann protests, rising with him, and they both bid the interviewer and cameramen a good day and go into the back room, and then Hermann ducks into the restrooms to splash water on his face because he's feeling hot, still.

"Ready to go?" Newton asks, leaning against the wall, filing his nails as he waits for Hermann to be done, and Hermann grunts; towels his face with paper towels and then groans when that smears the makeup.

Newton laughs at him. "Here," he says, "let me help you get that all off. I'm pretty good at it—used to have to do this shit all the time when I was with the Rabbits." He takes a new paper-towel and wets it lightly, wiping, gently, at Hermann's face; repeats the process, tongue sticking out between his teeth with concentration.

Hermann's breath hitches; he stills, one hand gripping his cane, the other gripping at empty air. Newton's hands are warm as they brush his skin, and he's not sure what to do.

"There," Newton says, with satisfaction, and steps back, "all good."

Hermann breathes; checks his reflection in the mirror, relieved to find that Newton's managed to get it all after all. "Thank you," he mutters.

"No problem," Newton replies; and then, after a moment, "really, though, did I have something on my face on set?"

Hermann shakes his head sharply. "No," he says, "I wasn't lying."

"Never said that," Newton says, easily. "So if there wasn't anything on my face, what were you looking at?"

The question brings him to a halt; he wasn't expecting this conversation; or, at least, not yet. They did Drift, after all; it was probably inevitable. Truth is probably the best policy, then. "You," Hermann says, honestly.

The other stops. "...what?" he breathes.

"What, do you want me to say it again?" Hermann snaps, but it's without heat, and Newton shakes his head.

"No, I just—surprised," he says. "Why would you—?"

"Newton," he says, softly, "why would I look at you? We Drifted, Newton. You're a genius—put it together."

Newton purses his lips; stares at him, hard; tears at the brown of the paper towel in his hand, streaking some of the makeup on it onto his fingers. "You...hmm," he says, after a moment, and then: "Oh."

Hermann has to laugh at that; just slightly. "'Oh'?" he asks, amused, "that's your reaction?"

"Well how would you react to learning your feelings are reciprocated?" Newton snaps, "cut me some slack here, man."

"Reciprocated," Hermann repeats. "Good to know."

"Shut up and kiss me," Newton grumbles, and Hermann laughs again, and acquiesces, palm cupping Newton's cheek as he presses his lips to the other's.

#newton geiszler #hermann gottlieb #newmann #pacific rim #fanfic #that time-tested feeling of suddenly realising how much you love someone #spinecorset writes

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hermannsthumb · 5 years

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I've been haunted by this prompt: Hermann keeps staring at Newt's lips wondering if they're as soft as they look.

this ficlet brought to you by the fifty times newt goes :p in the film and this one picture i have saved of him after being chased by baby otachi where his mouth is hanging open

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Hermann’s insomnia has been getting worse lately. He’s not sure why--stress, looming deadlines, the end of the world that creeps ever-closer--but whatever the case may be, he’s laid awake in bed three of the five nights of this week. Alone, gazing up at the ceiling, thoughts racing, drifting off around five only to be awoken by his alarm for work at seven and have to shamble to the showers and choke down breakfast. It makes for a bloody awful work day. Even Newton’s been commenting on his recent sloppiness.

(“Missing a decimal point there, ace,” he said yesterday, tapping at Hermann’s chalkboard with the end of a pencil obnoxiously, and the day before was the negative sign that shouldn’t have been there, and two days before that--because Hermann managed to get one decent night’s sleep in the middle--he’d written a six instead of a seven. Messy, easily caught mistakes. Yet Hermann did not catch them.)

The solutions Google gave Hermann did not help. Hermann does not use a computer if he can help it, nor is he allowed a cellular phone on the base, so there is nothing to cut back on there; he already does not drink caffeine after five in the evening; evening meditation does nothing but give him time to ruminate on how behind in his work he is and stress him out further. He’s at his wit’s end. Frustrated beyond anything. It’s why he’s on his way to the lab at three in the morning--he may as well get some bloody work done.

He should’ve known Newton--perpetually sleep-deprived, caffeine-guzzling, manic Newton, who embraces his insomnia with open arms--would have the same idea.

“Howdy,” Newton says when Hermann shuffles through the door. He’s sprawled across the couch, cradling a mug, wearing nothing but boxers and a sweatshirt, his hair a wild tangled mess. Usually he’s styled it with so much product not even a hurricane could rustle a strand out of place. “What’s up? Couldn’t sleep?”

Hermann back a sigh: he hadn’t particularly wanted to talk to anyone. Especially not someone who loves talking as much as Newton. He nods.

“Me neither,” Newton says. “Hey, have a seat. I just made a pot of coffee, do you want--?”

“No,” Hermann says, quickly, “thank you. I won’t be able to sleep if I have caffeine now.”

Newton’s mouth twists up. “You’re already not sleeping,” he points out. He swings his legs down to make room for Hermann and pats the cushion. “Come on, have a seat, you’re not going to get any work done anyway. Is it still milk and no sugar?”

“Er. Yes.”

Hermann takes the proffered seat while Newton dims the lights and busies himself at the kitchenette. He, strangely, feels more comfortable here (with the sagging cushions, creaking springs, overstuffed throw pillows) than he has in his bed all month. The couch is still warm with Newton’s body heat; the overhead lights are not fluorescent, not like they are in Hermann’s room; even the steady bubbling of Newton’s specimen tanks in the background is soothing. Hermann drags the knit blanket they keep tossed over the back of the couch down and spreads it out across himself, and, as an afterthought, nudges off his slippers. It’s downright cozy.

“Here, dude.” Newton wriggles in next to Hermann and hands the mug over. The PPDC-issued instant coffee is terrifically weak, and the milk they put in it is always watered down enough to barely be milk, yet the smell of it--the warmth of it, spreading down through his fingers--makes Hermann hum happily. He even allows himself a small smile. “Gimme some blanket,” Newton says. “I’m cold.”

“It’s not big enough for both of us,” Hermann says.

Newton wriggles closer. “It’s going to have to be. Come on, you jerk, I made you coffee.” Hermann relents and allows Newton to slip under the blanket, too; Newton sinks, low, until it reaches his chin, and then shoots Hermann a smug, satisfied smile. “I knew you’d wear a dressing gown,” he continues. He’s speaking softer than usual. “It’s the kind of dorky thing you’d do.”

“Mm,” Hermann says.

Newton drums his fingers against the side of his mug. He takes a drink.

How funny, Hermann thinks, the sorts of thoughts you entertain when you’re not quite in your right mind, the sorts of thoughts he’s entertaining now upon watching his friend swallow and swipe his tongue across his lower lip: Newton has got a lovely mouth. Always pink, like he’s just bitten at it, curled into a perpetual snarky grin (though less snarky, tonight, more genuine), wet, now, from coffee and saliva. Soft. Very soft. Hermann’s own lips are always chapped.

“Something wrong?” Newton says.

Newton has a tin of rose-flavored lip balm he keeps in the top drawer of his desk, and Hermann has seen him use it frequently (carefully and methodically dragging a fingertip across his lips). It always leaves his mouth a little glossy. The vaguest scent of roses clinging to him that Hermann catches in whiffs when he walks by. Perhaps he’d taste like roses now. “Ah,” Hermann says, casting his eyes down to his mug hurriedly, “no, why would you ask?”

“You were looking at me weird,” Newton says. “Do I have something...?” He licks two fingers and rubs at a spot on his cheek.

“No,” Hermann says. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

He takes a too-big sip of coffee, chokes, and coughs up half of it down his pajama shirt and dressing gown. Newton narrows his eyes. “Alright.”

Unlike Hermann, who can go months without picking up a razor and have nothing more than a few cactus-like prickles along his jaw to show for it, Newton seems to be perpetually stubbled no matter how often he shaves. Chin, jaw, cheeks--always so rough-looking, always so scratchy, yet encircling that damned soft mouth. Would it burn to kiss him? Or would Hermann be so distracted by his lips--

“Stop staring at me, man,” Newton says, “it’s wigging me out.”

“I’m sorry,” Hermann wheezes. “It’s not--”

Newton wets his lips again, another frequent habit of his, something Hermann has seen him do dozens of times when he’s anxious or lost in thought. Only this time, when Newton does it, Hermann cracks.

Newton goes rigid with confusion when Hermann swoons against him, but when Hermann--unable to help himself--presses their lips together clumsily, he fists the back of Hermann’s dressing gown with a “Mmph!” and kisses back. Hermann is quickly overwhelmed. Newton’s lips are as soft as they look, soft and plush, and he parts them so readily when Hermann prods at them with his tongue that Hermann can’t help but push more of himself against Newton and kiss him harder, push his tongue in deeper. Newton’s stubble scrapes his skin. He tastes like stale coffee. (No roses.) How wonderful--how dizzying--

Hermann’s snapped to his senses by the sound both of their coffee mugs rolling off the couch and shattering. What is he doing? “I’m sorry,” Hermann repeats in a pant. He tries to push himself up, up off the dazed Newton, up to deal with the mess seeping across the floor. “I’m sorry, I don’t know--”

“Shut up,” Newton says, grinning, tugging furiously at Hermann’s gown to pull him back down. His pupils have dilated behind his crooked, fogging glasses. “Do it again.”

#newmann #maria's fanfiction tag #Anonymous

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stunudo · 7 years

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Deliverance

A Criminal Minds Fan-fiction

Featuring: Luke Alvez x Spencer Reid Setting: After Season 12

Requested by: Anonymous

“Omg I am going to request a ralvez one shot because there is not (and never will be) enough ralvez in this world. So could you do one where they finally admit their feelings for each other (post-reid jail time) and Luke admits that he's never been with a guy before and he is nervous??? Please and thank you!! <3″

A/N: Thank you for your request! I am tagging it for @reidbyers Ralvez week. I am sorry it took so long, but I, huh, really need to watch season 12. (Because I spend too much time online and can only watch the show when my kids are asleep.) I love this ship so much! I hope you like it. xoxo Stu

Warnings: Grief, angst, talk of sex acts

Spencer felt like he had been asleep for months. In truth it was twenty seven hours and fourteen minutes since he last glanced at the bedside clock in the safe-house Emily had placed he and his mother in. The thought of his mother and her safety sent that familiar panic through his lean frame. He found her seated at the kitchen table, reading contently. The relief flooded through him and he sighed when the nurse caught his eye, smiling in her quiet understanding.

It was as if the past months locked away were just a nightmare he had to overcome; wakefulness had found him with his freedom. He had missed much more than just his mother and her abduction. He had missed cases and setbacks, profiles and small victories. He had missed his team. Although his thoughts had been on one team member more than the others. Something that he hadn’t expected especially when Luke first began aiding the BAU.

Luke hated this part of the job the most. The delivery of earth-shattering news to the family members of his fallen brothers. Emily had insisted on meeting the Walkers at the hospital instead of going home. Luke wouldn’t let her do that on her own. Every one of them were exhausted to the point of numbness. In this storm of emotions his years of training kicked in and he persevered.

The natural smile far from his lips as he stood alongside his chief as the truth destroyed Stephen’s family. How much more loss was he going to have to bring to loved ones? Was catching the unsubs and fugitives making any difference? It didn’t feel like it on nights like these.

The day of the funeral was the next time Spencer saw any of his teammates, besides JJ. She had come over with the boys to visit once Spencer and Diana were resettled at home. Diana loved those boys. Spencer was amazed at how much they had grown since, well, everything. Henry was calculated with his questions for Uncle Spencer, JJ was on guard about any topic too personal. Spencer appreciated his godson’s curiosity and insight. He answered him honestly, because Spencer valued Henry’s trust.

Diana didn’t notice Spencer getting dressed in a full suit. She didn’t notice him shaving or saying goodbye. Spencer took the train into the city and found his way to the cemetery alone. Garcia saw him first and she maneuvered mechanically around the chairs and rows of strangers. She scooped the tall genius into a tight hug.

“You cleaned up nice,” She whispered breathy.

Spencer’s mouth grimaced and he nodded his head to the side. “Thanks, uh, you too.”

“Oh pish,” She waved off the compliment with her clutch in hand. “Come on, our family is all over here.”

Spencer followed Penelope to the two rows the BAU team was occupying. JJ and Emily both hugged him as Rossi patted him on the back. Luke and Tara held back sharing concerned welcome. Spencer didn’t know what to say to Walker’s family, so he sat down and kept quiet. Something he had become used to doing over the past months in prison. The service reflected a talented and dedicated father; a man who deserved more years than he was given. Spencer grieved for the family, a family who wouldn’t be in this situation if he hadn’t been incredibly reckless all those months ago.

Luke had been going over the words and sentences in his head for months. He had guessed every possible reaction that Spencer would have, except this. Spencer sat beside him in the passenger seat in complete and utter silence. Luke wasn’t sure if he had spoken aloud. Had he? Had he meant to? It was not the best timing. But after months apart, the twenty minutes in the car together was the most genuine comfort he could have dreamed of, especially after the funeral.

Luke cleared his throat and tried to look Spencer in the eyes. “Reid? Did you hear me?”

Spencer’s hands were placed flat on to his thighs, they began to sweat so he brushed them on his suit pants absentmindedly.

“Do you mean it?” Spencer’s voice was barely audible. He let the words sink in and then he met Luke’s dark eyes in earnest. Luke’s throat had gone dry, he swallowed.

“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” Luke leaned toward the taller man, not sure of what to do. Hands itching to comfort him, to solidify his confession. “I’m in love with you.”

Spencer’s brown eyes were on the cusp of tears, his lips pursed and scrunched in concentration. He inhaled, “I’ve wanted this for so long, Luke.” A shy smile curling his pink lips. “But I’m not the man you knew. I have done things and hurt people. People that didn’t deserve it.”

Luke gave up the internal debate and placed his strong left hand on Spencer’s forearm. He raised his right thumb and brushed a streak of saline from Spencer’s pristine cheekbone. “We have all been through a lot since you’ve been gone. I just want the chance to get to know each other again. As more than teammates.”

Spencer bent his face into Luke’s soothing palm, closing his eyes to revel in the skin to skin contact. Affection that had been missing from his life for too long. “Even if I am still navigating towards the new me?” His voice cracked.

Luke didn’t answer, instead he crossed the distance to Spencer, sealing all of their hope and longing in a whisper of a kiss. He touched his forehead to Spencer’s, staring into his very being, “Even then.”

One month later

“What are your plans for the weekend?” Lewis kicked her long legs on the seat facing her and Luke. The case was over, unfortunately the unsub killed himself before they could arrest him.

“Well, there’s this film festival I read about...” Luke checked to see where Spencer was sleeping on the jet, to ensure the conversation was private. “I know he likes foreign films, but I kind of want to surprise him.”

Tara shook her head and patted Luke’s knee.

“What?!”

“You’re trying to surprise a profiler who has a photographic memory?” Lewis chuckled softly. “I’m sure you’ll have fun, but don’t bank on the surprise part.”

The next afternoon Luke and Roxie returned after their run through the park. They were both panting from the exercise, though still excitable. When they got home, Roxie made a weird noise and started pawing at the door.

“What is it, girl? That thirsty?” Luke teased and unlocked the door to his home. Roxie bolted in and jumped up on Spencer who was waiting patiently inside. Spencer and Roxie had formed a surprising relationship since Spencer and Luke started dating. The skittish genius had warmed up to Luke’s dog, he assumed it was because he was able to trust her and hoped she understood they both cared about her human. She tolerated him because he smelled nice and made her human relax.

Luke’s face was alight, “What are you doing here?” Luke walked up to Spencer and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Wait, how did you even get in here?” Luke’s eye brows raised. Spencer shrugged, smirking while scratching Roxie’s ears.

“Mrs. Hermann likes me.”

Luke rolled his eyes, “That’s because you flirt with her. Any others of my elderly neighbors I have to worry about?”

Spencer liked when Luke was jealous, but he didn’t want it to be drawn out. Roxie left them alone to find her water dish, Spencer slid his arms around Luke’s waist. “So? Have any plans tonight?” His light brown eyes rich with mischief.

“Not anymore.” Luke gave Spencer another quick kiss. “But, let me shower? I am all sweaty.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Spencer appraised Luke’s form fitting tee shirt and basketball shorts.

“Stop, I’m gross.” Luke teased, squeezing Spencer’s side playfully. “Just give me ten minutes.”

After a deeper kiss and a sigh, Spencer released his boyfriend. “No rush, the first showing isn’t until eight anyway.” He called as Luke headed to the bathroom. Luke shook his head, of course Spencer had figured it out on his own.

There was a gay couple in one of the films! It was annoying how pleasantly surprised Luke felt when he saw them. It was something he wouldn’t have noticed until a talkative genius captured his attention. Luke had never been with a man before, in fact he had never thought he would be in a relationship with one at all. Perhaps it was his overly strict Catholic family or his own insecurities regarding his sexuality. He had “passed” as straight for so long he didn’t think he needed to explore that part of himself.

Until he fell in love with his old partner, he wasn’t even sure he was queer. The despair and uncertainty that came with his death had pushed Luke’s heart back inside his internal closet. And then he teamed up with the BAU. Spencer’s intense mind and deep soul encompassed Luke’s heart faster than anyone had before. Being a bisexual in hiding meant Luke was not versed in determining that the twinkle in Spencer’s eyes was only for him.

Spencer, meanwhile, had become overly comfortable with his solitary lifestyle. After losing Maeve he didn’t think he would ever want or find romantic love again. As a man of science, he never had any concern over the physical of those he became emotionally attached to. Certainly not concerning anything as arbitrary as genitalia or societal expectations. Spencer Reid valued people as a whole, not a collection of body parts. Luke Alvez was wholly beautiful, internally and externally.

There the budding couple sat in the dark in the center aisle of the half-crowded movie house. The subtitles giving Luke the hints to Spencer’s engagement with the confrontation upon the screen. Suddenly the tension froze as one of the men fiercely kissed the other actor. The scenes flashed forward with brief glimpses of the passion unfolding, kisses and hands, one man performing oral sex on the other. Then the following morning and the men snuggling in the easy morning light. It was breathtaking. The rush Luke felt throughout his body twisted in his stomach. Emotion rolling within; desire, embarrassment, awe, hope and insecurity. He was going to have to tell Spencer his secret. But how?

Spencer’s aversion to physical contact was only for those he didn’t trust and strangers. He was not into public displays of affection because he hated to be seen as a target for bullies. Luke was not ready for anyone but the team knowing about their relationship so he was also content with walking with his hands to himself back to his truck.

“That was not the first film by Bisogni that I have seen, but his style has evolved since the last one.” Spencer had one hand in his pocket and the other aiding in his descriptions. Luke listening intently, unlocking the passenger door and holding it open for Spencer to duck inside the truck. Spencer smiled to himself at the sweetness of the gesture, he watched Luke walk around the front and into the driver’s seat.

His smile came easily, but the words were a rush. “Did you know that the glans of the penis has roughly four thousand nerve endings?”

Luke was used to his boyfriend being full of facts, but he wasn’t used to sex facts out of context. Spencer continued, “And by the age of fifteen nearly 100% of males have masturbated to the point of orgasm.”

“Okay, Spencer, where is this going?” Luke started the engine, not looking at his boyfriend.

“Physically pleasing oneself is beneficial for being able to communicate how a lover may best please you. Statistically, you know how to bring yourself to orgasm, Luke.” Spencer’s voice softened. “Being intimate with a man is a lot easier than society wants us to believe. Anatomically, we already know what pleases us, so we have a basis for our journey together.”

Luke slammed the gear shift back into Park. Spencer had profiled his inexperience and hesitation from that two minute love scene in the show. He dropped his head to the steering wheel and exhaled a groan of embarrassment. Spencer leaned over to stroke Luke’s curls, “Please don’t hide from me. Tell me what’s going on in that mind of yours.”

Luke smiled, it was usually him wondering what Spencer’s brain was processing. “I, um, have never been with a man, Spencer. Which, I take you know?” Spencer nodded and pursed his lips. Luke continued, “Are you going to leave me if I, can’t, if I’m not ready? Spencer, I don’t want to be bad at this.”

Spencer understood, completely. He always had the facts and research to back up his endeavors, but with Luke, things came easier, born of instinct. The idea that he wouldn’t be adequate hadn’t even crossed Spencer’s mind, because it was something they would be figuring out together. “You won’t be bad, baby. You’ll be new at it. This isn’t a test, its a way for us to become closer in every sense of the phrase.” Spencer’s mouth quirked mischievously. “We don’t have to figure anything out tonight. Just know that I would love to wake up next to you, if you want to spend the night.”

Luke nodded, sighing as his body released the tension that had been building. He wasn’t ready for all night love making, but perhaps spending the night would be a good starting point for their intimacy. Luke drove home to check on Roxie and grab some essentials.

“Are you sure about this?” Spencer asked quietly.

Luke nodded. “I’ve wanted you for so long, Spence. Are you? I don’t want to confuse your mom.” He entwined his hand in his boyfriend’s, gently kissing it.

Spencer shook his head and stroked Luke’s hand with his thumb. “Mom will be fine. Let’s get to bed already.” They kissed softly in the late night air as the vehicle’s engine roared to life. They had found each other in the hopelessness; together saving themselves.

@imagicana @gubl-oser

#Criminal Minds #spencer reid #luke alvez #spencer x luke #ralvez #reidvez #reilvez #reid x alvez #beautiful boys #cm fanfiction #request #stu #new ship for my masterlist #new love #we're all queer here #ralvez week

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thatsnotcanonpodcasts · 5 years

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Dr Stone, Brain Circuits & G2A

Well once again we have an amazing show for your entertainment, DJ brings us news of a new anime series, Buck has news about brain circuits, good and bad decision making, and finally the Professor brings us news about fraud and scams. But first up we wish to just say welcome ad thank you for joining us once again.

Now the new anime series is called Dr Stone, set in a post-apocalyptic world where everyone has been turned into… Statues and society is to be rebuilt using science. So the premise is looking interesting, the promo gives some comedic content to look forward to. It looks like it will be worth checking out for a laugh. We wish to advise that no DJ’s were harmed during the recording of this and he was ok, just a bit stranger than normal. Which in itself is quite remarkable really, but we digress. Dr Stone has 24 episodes at this point and aired from 5th July on Crunchyroll. So, check it out and let us know what you think.

Now, have you ever wondered why people continue to make the same silly decision repeatedly? For example, people repeatedly using harmful drugs, voting once again for moronic politicians, and reality television shows still being watched. Seriously who watches that stuff, can they just stop it please so we can get better content that doesn’t make us want to claw our eyes out! Umm, yes, bad decisions, well a recent study has been conducted and shows support for the hypothesis that three particular regions of the brain are involved. That’s right, it is not just the frontal lobe, it bounces between various sections and is actually quite involved. If one section is not working right then the result is an individual with a predilection for bad choices, like the foolish nut job mumble rappers like lil stump, or is that bump, whatever, no one cares really. This is when Buck starts to get technical with some of his explanation and has to pause to calm down.

Professor tells us that game developers would rather we pirate games from something called file sharing, whatever that is. They urge this be done instead of using G2A due to a constant amount of fraudulent activity causing problems for both consumers and developers alike. That’s right folks, game developers are apparently tired of nasty vermin cheats who are ripping off everyone, this is a very interesting topic that has a number of issues involved and hits at the heart of our gaming recreation. So check it out and see what exactly is happening.

As usual we have the shout outs, remembrances, birthdays and special events of interest for the week. We also wish to say that a surprise mechanism is a trap, and so are loot boxes, so please EA, stop treating us as morons. But other than that, please remember to take care of yourselves, look out for each other and stay hydrated. Also check out the folks at Off with the Fairies and tell them we said hello.

We will return next week at the same Nerd time, on the same Nerd podcast channels, and at the same Nerd place (preferably over a cup of Earl Grey, hot). Catch you next time.

EPISODE NOTES:

Dr Stone anime Series - https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/06/30/dr-stone-anime-tv-promo/

Brain Circuits - https://scitechdaily.com/three-distinct-brain-circuits-lead-us-to-make-bad-and-good-decisions/

G2A piracy - https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-07-02-developers-call-for-players-to-pirate-their-games-rather-than-buy-from-g2a

Games currently playing

Buck

– Mafia 3 - https://store.steampowered.com/app/360430/Mafia_III/

Professor

– Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy - https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy-switch/

DJ – Apex Legends

- https://www.playstation.com/en-au/games/apex-legends-ps4/

Other topics discussed

Mannequin Challenge (viral Internet video trend)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannequin_Challenge

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995 anime series)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion

Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans (2015 anime series)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam:_Iron-Blooded_Orphans

Tartarus Sunspot

- https://matthewreilly.fandom.com/wiki/Tartarus_Sunspot

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies (Psychology term)

- https://study.com/academy/lesson/self-fulfilling-prophecies-in-psychology-definition-examples.html

The Secret (2006 book)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_%28book%29

Mozart Effect

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effect

Oprah Winfrey moments

- Oprah shuts down her book club - https://ew.com/article/2002/04/08/oprah-shuts-down-her-book-club/

- Oprah gives everyone a car - https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/how-oprahs-iconic-you-get-a-car-moment-ended-on-a-sour-note/news-story/46646a3fbf54acc210354304c9910490

- Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch - https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/11-years-ago-tom-cruise-jumped-on-oprahs-couch-lost-his-mind_n_57436ab1e4b0613b512b05ad

You Wouldn’t Steal A Car (Anti-piracy advertisement)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Wouldn%27t_Steal_a_Car

Take Two CEO: Loot Boxes are freedom of speech

- https://segmentnext.com/2019/06/27/take-two-ceo-look-boxes-are-freedom-of-speech/

EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson’s take on loot boxes

- https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/06/20/ea-loot-boxes-discussed-by-the-companys-ceo-andrew-wilson/

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014 game)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth:_Shadow_of_Mordor

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018 game)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyro_Reignited_Trilogy

Mario (Nintendo character)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario

Donkey Kong Country (1994 Super Nintendo game)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_Country

Monkey island (adventure game series)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Island_(series)

Wattson (Apex Legends character)

- https://apexlegends.gamepedia.com/Wattson

Shoutouts

2 Jul 1839 - Slaves aboard a Spanish schooner La Amistad revolt to secure their freedom while being transported from one Cuban port to another - https://www.history.com/news/the-amistad-slave-rebellion-175-years-ago

2 Jul 1900 – LZ-1 (Luftschiff Zeppelin 1) made its maiden flight, the first flight lasted about 18 minutes and covered about 3-1/2 miles over Lake Constance at Friedrichshafen in Southern Germany, not far from the Swiss border. The first flight of LZ-1 was the culmination of years of planning by its creator Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. - https://www.airships.net/zeppelins/

4 Jul 1776 - Independence Day (colloquial: the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

Remembrances

2 Jul 1850 - Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British statesman and Conservative Party politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and twice as Home Secretary. He is regarded as the father of modern British policing by founding of the Metropolitian Police Service leading to a new type of officer known in tribute to him as "bobbies" and "peelers”. He is also reforming and liberalising the criminal law. He died from a horse-riding accident at 62 in Westminster, Middlesex. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Peel

2 Jul 1999 - Mario Gianluigi Puzo, was an Americanauthor,screenwriter and journalist. He is known for his crime novels about the Italian-Americanmafia, most notably The Godfather, which he later co-adapted into a three-part film saga directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first film in 1972 and Part II in 1974. Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. His final novel The Family was released posthumously in 2001. He died of heart failure at 78 in West Bay Shore, New York. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Puzo

2 Jul 2008 - Elizabeth Spriggs, was an English character actress. Sprigg's roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company included Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Gertrude in Hamlet and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. In 1978, she won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for Arnold Wesker's Love Letters on Blue Paper. She received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility. Her other films included Richard's Things, Impromptu, Paradise Road and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She died at 78 in Oxford, Oxfordshire. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Spriggs

Famous Birthdays

2 Jul 1877 – Hermann Hesse, German-born poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include Demian,Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game, each of which explores an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was born in Calw, Württemberg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Hesse

2 Jul 1908 - Thurgood Marshall, American lawyer, serving as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's 96th justice and its first African-American justice. Prior to his judicial service, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education which held that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. He was born in Baltimore,Maryland - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall

3 Jul 1935 - Harrison Schmitt, American geologist, retired NASA astronaut, university professor, former U.S. senator from New Mexico, and, as a crew member of Apollo 17, the most recent living person to have walked on the Moon. As Apollo 17 was the last of the Apollo missions, he also became the twelfth and second-youngest person to set foot on the Moon, and the second-to-last person to step off of the Moon. Schmitt also remains the first and only professional scientist to have flown beyond low Earth orbit and to have visited the Moon. He was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Schmitt

Events of Interest

2 Jul 1843 - An alligator falls from sky during a thunderstorm in Charleston, South Carolina - https://www.onthisday.com/photos/the-day-an-alligator-fell-from-the-sky

2 Jul 1956 – Elvis records hound dog & Don’t Be Cruel during an exhaustive recording session at RCA studios in New York City - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Be_Cruel

3 Jul 1938 – World speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h) - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/only-in-britain/mallard-set-world-speed-record/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

RSS - http://www.thatsnotcanonproductions.com/topshelfnerdspodcast?format=rss

#science #anime #nintendo #gamedevelopment #gamers #gaming #gaming news #science fiction #summer anime #piracy #game sales #the secret #oprah #G2A #Donkey Kong

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introvertguide · 4 years

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Vertigo (1958); AFI #9

We are taking another dip into the AFI top 10 with the highest rated Hitchcock film, Vertigo (1958). This film was not well rated critically or at the box office upon initial release despite being game changing with its innovation in plot and filming. The film was nominated for Best Sound and Best Set Direction, but those were 2 aspects of the film that seemed the least award worthy. I am not sure about the sound design, but I agree with the set direction. Worthy of nomination would have been cinematography and score as well. Maybe best adapted screenplay. I would not say this is Hitchcock’s best directing since he did more as a producer pulling together great talents then he did as a director. We can discuss more about that, but I want to go over the plot first:

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING! WATCH THE MOVIE BEFORE READING FURTHER!!

The film starts with a rooftop chase in which a policeman dies trying to help a detective who slipped and is about to fall. The policeman dies attempting to save the detective and the detective is mentally traumatized by the event.

The detective turns out to be Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) and he has decided to retire from the force because of his acrophobia that brings on a sense of vertigo. (Note: There was a very poor understanding of phobias at the time and almost all of the information given seems pretty silly compared to the accepted understanding of phobias today, so I consider it more that the characters do not understand. I don’t want to nitpick a 60 year old film when the psychological field has progressed so much since then.) He has a friend named Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) that wants to help him get over his fear and get back on the force, but Scottie seems like he will have to take it slow.

Right as Scottie has healed physically, he is contacted by an old friend to act as a private detective. Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) requests that Scottie follow his wife around since she is acting strange and has an unhealthy attachment to a woman who committed suicide in the 1800s after losing a child. The wife is named Madeleine (Kim Novak) and Scottie tails her throughout the day and finds that she purchases things associated with this dead woman and goes to places related to the woman. He finally witnesses her attempt suicide by jumping into a bay and he jumps in and saves her. There is a scene of what today seems awkward because Scottie brings Madeleine home and strips here out of her wet clothes instead of taking her to a hospital. I guess it was normal at the time because she is thankful and then she leaves in the morning.

Scottie has become smitten so he tracks down Madeleine the next morning and spends the day with her but doesn’t mention he was hired by the husband. They spend the day together and she goes in and out of a trance like state until they finally go to an old mission and Madeleine runs up into a bell tower and commits suicide. Scottie tries to follow and stop her but his acrophobia slows him down enough that he doesn’t see the jump, only the falling body. In any case, Madeleine is dead and Scottie is again traumatized.

Scottie is not blamed for the death, but he goes into a catatonic state and stays at a sanitarium for an undetermined amount of time. The doctor tells a visiting Midge that it could take 6-12 months to get past his trauma, and she mentions that Scottie was in love with Madeleine and the doctor says that is even worse. Scottie eventually is released, yet he has not completely recovered and goes to all the places that Madeleine used to go. He becomes more obsessed and is elated when he bumps into a woman named Judy Barton who looks identical to Madeleine (also played by Novak). Scottie creepily follows Judy home and talks his way into her apartment.

This is where things get weird. Scottie talks his way into her apartment and then takes her on a date. It is revealed to the audience (but not Scottie) through a flashback that this is the same woman that was known as Madeleine, but a different woman had been thrown from the bell tower right as Madeleine had reached the top of the tower and Scottie had missed it due to his problems with vertigo at heights. The woman has brown hair and wears a different style of clothes, so Scottie becomes obsessed with changing Judy until she looks just like Madeleine. The audience doesn’t know who to feel sorry for because Judy is made out to be lying to make Scottie feel crazy, but she obviously has feelings for Scottie. He, on the other hand, has been tricked and is going crazy becoming dangerous and emotionally abusive to Judy.

They go around to different shops and services until Judy is successfully transformed back into Madeleine when she makes a mistake of putting on a necklace that was one that Madeleine was supposed to be obsessed over and Scottie realizes he has been tricked. He suddenly decides to drive Judy (completely dressed as Madeleine) back to the bell tower and it is revealed that Judy was a paid actress that Scottie was asked to follow thinking it was Elster’s wife while the real wife was killed and thrown off the roof. Scottie was chosen specifically because he wouldn’t be able to climb the tower despite seeing her go up.

Scottie physically (and abusively) pushes Judy up the stairs up to the top where she confesses everything. They are suddenly surprised by a nun who is coming up to ring the bell and Judy falls to her death from the same bell tower. The nun rings the bell and Scottie looks down and the movie ends.

One thing to note about the movie is that the whole thing takes place in and around San Francisco. It is very scenic and at times seems almost like an industrial film promoting tourism for the area. This is prominent because the location was the first thing decided about the movie. Alfred Hitchcock went to San Francisco, called it the Paris of America, and decided to make a movie set in the city before he had any kind of story in mind. This was not the first time he did this, but it still seems like a weird starting point to me. Needless to say, there is a really cool driving tour about all the Vertigo locations in the Bay Area that makes for a really nice overview of the area.

I understand that Hitchcock was a fan of blonde actresses in their 20s and that he had a great working relationship with Jimmy Stewart as his go to lead actor, but this made for somewhat awkward love interests in some of the movies in the late 50s and early 60s and this was no exception. It is especially awkward when Scottie is going crazy and forcing Judy to dress in a certain way and pushes her up to the top of a bell tower. Knowing the stories of Hitchcock, that might have been entirely intentional. Another aspect that is a little weird is how obviously bad that Scottie is at being a detective. His inability to follow a suspect without being blatantly obvious is laughable at times.

Despite this being called Hitchcock’s masterwork, I can’t praise this movie without noting all the things that he did not do. San Francisco gets points for being naturally beautiful. Associate producer Herbert Coleman did a great job finding beautiful locations. The screenplay of Vertigo is an adaptation of the French novel D'entre les morts (From Among the Dead) by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. The actual adaptation went through the hands of 3 different writers finally ending with Samuel Taylor, the writer of other classics such as Sabrina and Avanti. The intro to the movie was done by the great Saul Bass. The costumes were done by the great Edith Head. The 1st unit DP Robert Brooks made all of the location shots blend beautifully and the 2nd unit DP Irmin Roberts invented shots to create the vertigo effect. Bernard Hermann once again stepped in and created a haunting score that was robbed for not getting an Oscar nomination. Of course, Alfred would have been lost without the help and patience of his wife Alma, who was never credited but apparently helped quite a bit with the editing process on this film.

Even beyond the original making of the movie, the film negatives were restored to amazing quality by Robert Harris and James Katz in 1996. Hitchcock held on to the negatives and the movie was not shown until after his death and the prints look faded and dingy when finally released in 1984. Over a decade later, the movie was chosen for restoration and it was suddenly considered an artistic classic. It has been opined by critics that the film actually looks better now than Hitchcock ever imagined it would, so it can be argued that this is much more than a Hitchcock movie.

I do think that the restored film is a beautiful masterpiece, but I can imagine that the film was not as well received on initial release because the first hour is almost completely beauty shots of San Francisco and it would have gone over pretty poorly if the film was of low quality. Maybe a bit of a hot take, but I think the movie has become better over time. This seems more apparent because the recognition for the movie didn’t happen when it was first rereleased into the public in 1984, but suddenly became a masterpiece in the late 90s after it was remastered.

So should this movie be on the AFI list? Oh yes. Shot as almost a love note to San Francisco and the California Bay Area, this is a very American film. Also, the invention of the dolly zoom to imitate the feeling of vertigo has been used widely throughout the industry. Also, the idea of introducing the plot twist to the audience 30 minutes before the main character was risky but ingenious. Absolutely one of the best movies (at least the restored version I have seen) of all time. Would I recommend it? Yes. It is neither my favorite movie of all time nor is it even my favorite Hitchcock film (that goes to Rear Window), but it is a truly great movie and worth going out and finding for a watch. Appreciate the acting, the use of color, the vertigo zoom, the beautiful scenery, and the great story that was conceived on a trip in 1951 and was eventually restored to near perfection almost 50 years later. Please see it and enjoy.

#vertigo #50s #Hollywood cinema #movies #films #afi films #alfred hitchcock #Jimmy Stewart #kim novak #suspense #introvert #introverted #restored

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