The Woman in the Window

First... Ignore low reviews from people who read the book. This is a movie! I hate it when people expect a film, lasting under 2 hours, to be similar to the book. Probably 0.001 percent of viewers have or will read the book. It's a film to review. So here goes, it's entertaining. Original, under a genre of Hitchcock. Great acting and clever camera work. Enjoy it. Just don't expect it to be exactly like the book and you'll be entertained. Those reviewers remind me of annoying reviews about a product , giving it one star, and only write about a late delivery! It helps no one.

From the release delays to the bad word of mouth, I was expecting this to be a trainwreck of a movie. Instead, what I got was a perfectly enjoyable suspense thriller. Sure, it's has it's flaws, the first half seems rushed, and some actors were underutilized (Jennifer Jason Leigh in particular) but I did not see that final twist coming - a twist that actually made sense.

I have not read the book, but even if I had it's only fair to judge this as a separate piece of work - because it is. So even if the book WAS better, it's got nothing to do with this piece of entertainment to me for they are two completely different experiences. Kudos to this film for not sucking.

Amy Adams stars in "The Woman in the Window" from 2021 (actually made in 2018), along with Gary Oldman, Fred Hechinger,Julianne Moore,Jennifer Jason Leigh, Wyatt Russell, and Brian Tyree Henry. The screenplay is by Tracy Letts.

First things first, I didn't read the book, so my review will have nothing to do with it.

Anna Fox is a child psychologist, who, after a tragedy, has become an agoraphobic, pill-popping alcoholic who lives in a dark New York City house with her cat, Punch. She spies on her neighbors and checks them out on the Internet.

She befriends a boy from across the street, Ethan (Hechinger) who brings her a gift from his mother. Later, a woman (Julianne Moore) visits Anna. She seems to be Ethan's mother, Jane Russell.

Anna is uneasy about Ethan, because after watching their apartment, she thinks his father is intimidating and worries about the boy. The, through her window, she sees Jane stabbed by someone.

However, the police don't believe her. Jane's husband (Russell) is livid with her and introduces her to his wife Jane (Leigh) - obviously not the woman Anna met. Despite her protests to the police, Anna is clearly written off as a nut.

I actually thought this a very good and effective film. I mentioned Copycat in my subject - I am referring to a very good film starring Sigourney Weaver from some years back. There were elements of it, as well as the obvious homage to Rear Window and the Stanwyck film Witness to Murder.

In short, The Woman in the Window is derivative, but still good, with quite a surprising ending. I thought the acting was terrific. Amy Adams, a very pretty woman, manages to look bloated with bags under her eyes in this, which is perfect for the role.

One thing I loved were the film references, to Dark Passage, Laura, and Spellbound, as well as the name "Jane Russell", and that spiral staircase that screamed Vertigo.

I highly recommend this film. I know people who read the book hated it, but if you didn't, I think you'll like it.

Having read the book I was super excited about the movie ! But alas it was a disappointment. The movie felt like more of a drama than an intriguing thriller like it was in the book. The dialogues sometimes were over the top and the pace lagging, the supporting actors only show up when it's convenient to keep the plot moving. Sadly there is nothing interesting about any one of them. Expect for Moore she nailed her part.

Even the two biggest reveals of the story seemed lacklustre. There was a lot of buildup throughout but it just fell flat in the end.

Keeping all the negativity aside Amy as always did a great job.

I don't get the bad reviews, although I gotta admit I haven't read the book. But as a movie itself, it was a good one, with a twist and a twisted character.