Being a huge fan of Hitchcock, Julie Andrews, and Paul Newman, I should hate this movie because none of them were particularly fond of it. With that said, you know what's going to follow: I don't hate it. It's not my favorite movie, or the best work from any of those three great talents, but it's actually pretty good. I love how we find out things in this movie as Sarah (Julie's character) finds them out, particularly about the "real" reason Michael (Paul's character and Sarah's assistant/fiance) is in East Germany. It has all the suspense of Hitchcock's best films and even though you're pretty sure what's going to happen at the end, just knowing that Hitchcock directed it makes you question until the end. Could have gotten by just fine without Julie's bushy hairdo, but for a chance to gaze into Paul Newman's eyes I'll take what I must. The chemistry between the two stars isn't like hers with Christopher Plummer or his with Joanne Woodward, but it's not a total fizzle either. They're believably in love, and if they weren't, the movie wouldn't work since Sarah would have much less of a reason to care about what happens to Michael. That is the driving force of the movie, and it works. Again, not the best, but not the worst way to spend a few hours either.
Review of Torn Curtain
