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13 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Great Thriller, 29 September 2005 Author: BDeWittP from Rochester, New York
Sometimes, people do the wrong thing, for a good reason. This isn't always right, but it's understandable. I think this is the premise for The Bedroom Window. People are human, and sometimes irrational behavior leads to something that can get more serious than originally anticipated.That is exactly what happens in this movie. Terry Lambert, played by Steve Guttenberg in what may just be his best performance, is a good man whose judgment isn't always the greatest. Terry is a business executive who makes the unwise decision of having an affair with his boss's wife, a beautiful french woman named Sylvia. One night at his apartment, she witnesses a young man assaulting a female. Obviously, she cannot go forward. Later, after learning of a different female being murdered near the scene that same night, he decides he'll go forward and report that he was the witness. "It's my apartment, my bedroom window," he says in an attempt to justify the dishonesty.The only problem, which proves to be a damaging blow, is that nothing can be proved about the murder. So, the only chance to convict the assailant is to prosecute on the assault case. The logic being it at least gives the authorities a chance to put the killer away to prevent him from hurting anyone else, while still hoping to find evidence connecting him to the murder. So Terry must testify during the trial that he witnessed the assault. In a brilliant scene, the defendant's attorney carves him up like an overcooked turkey, making it very clear that Terry is lying, but not why.As the authorities become suspicious of Terry, he begins to bond, through shared experience with Denise, the woman who was assaulted outside his apartment. She later figures out that Sylvia, and not Terry, saw the murder. "The question isn't What am I going to do? It's what are you going to do? And what is she going to do?," she says harshly and angrily, but not at all incorrectly. They both later discover, at least partially, the killer's motives, and agree that the only way to implicate him, and clear Terry, is to trap him and catch him in the act. Steve Guttenberg is magnificent as the scared, confused, and conscientious Terry. Elizabeth McGovern and Isabelle Huppert are equally as good as the women who care about him, but are unsure how to figure him out, or what to do. McGovern shows her very good acting ability with non-verbals that demonstrate clearly that she knows something isn't right about Terry through her facial expressions and the looks in her eyes. The cast of this movie work together like a well-oiled machine, and the story may not have been as compelling had it not been for the convincing actors.This is writing at it's best, top-notch acting, and film-making on a master scale. The movie is so well-made that we love the story, understand the characters and their situations, and just can't wait to see what happens next. This movie is a classic, and also a great thriller. Watch it!
11 out of 14 people found the following review useful: Well Worth a Look, 3 March 2002 Author: ndrejaj1969 from THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH, THE GREATEST COUNTRY
Directed by future phenom Curtis (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys) Hanson, THE BEDROOM WINDOW is an elegant Hitchcock homage, and an example of good 1980s moviemaking. Its got a certain vibe, thanks to terrific cinematography by the great Gilbert Taylor, production design by Ron Foreman, and expert direction by Hanson. REAR WINDOW it ain't, but this jazzy film is still worth a look. Lighten up folks!
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Close The Window Please, 28 September 2007 Author: Lechuguilla from Dallas, Texas
A young man named Terry Lambert (Steve Guttenberg) has a romantic fling with his bosses' wife. With their bedroom "activities" in progress, an outside assault occurs that gets Lambert involved, ultimately in murder.The film's underlying "all for love" theme is not really credible. Plot contrivances, along with incredulous coincidences and improbable timing imply a screenplay that was not well thought out. Further, the lead role in this film calls for a serious actor who can express some feeling. "Police Academy" Guttenberg, boyish and goofy looking, does not lend credibility to the role. That, combined with a dubious script closes any window of believability in this overwrought thriller. And that's too bad because "The Bedroom Window" does present a fairly engaging noir look, as a result of some great lighting and camera work. Production design is also quite good.The film's visual style is about all I can recommend in the way of interest. The ending is rather melodramatic, and includes some unintentional humor in some scenes that involve a man in a phone booth.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Great Suspense Film, 1 June 2007 Author: whpratt1 from United States
Steve Guttenberg, (Terry Lambert) plays the role as a guy who gets himself involved with a sexual romance with his boss's wife and while they are making out in bed, there is a scream from a woman outside their window. The woman goes to the window naked and observes a woman being attacked and identifies the rapist and tells her lover all about it. Terry decides to report the incident to the police and says that he observed the entire sexual assault because he doesn't want his boss to find out about his affair with his wife. Elizabeth McGovern, (Denise) is the woman who is attacked and she gets herself deeply involved with Terry Lambert and she even goes to bed with him. There is plenty of twists and turns to this mystery and I cannot go into more details without giving away some very dark secrets to this film. This is a good film and well worth spending your time to watch. Enjoy.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Hitchcock fans will love this, 25 August 2007 Author: lastliberal from Florida
This was a fascinating thriller in the style of Alfred Hitchcock.Terry Lambert (Steve Guttenberg) is having an affair with his boss' wife (Isabelle Huppert) and she sees an assault while looking out the window. He wants to do the right thing so he informs the police that he saw it, getting the details from her.Things fall apart and both the rapist (Brad Greenquist) and the attacked (Elizabeth McGovern) know he is lying, and soon the police are after him for the rape/murders.Things definitely get exciting as he tries to clear his name and catch the real killer (like OJ?).It ends as expected, but not before some really tense moments. Really worth watching.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Don't take it too seriously - just enjoy!, 24 August 2007 Author: Greensleeves from United Kingdom
This thriller would have made a great Hitchcock movie. As it stands, it's not too bad but it could have been so much better. However, any film that can engage the attention for nearly two hours must have something going for it and this does have an intriguing story line. It also has the advantage of a good cast, Steve Guttenberg is his usual affable self doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, Elizabeth McGovern brings a wonderful hard edge to her performance and Isabelle Huppert is beautiful but nasty. Brad Greenquist manages to imbue his role with a sinister quality without saying barely a word. The plot doesn't really hold up unfortunately and there are plenty of scenes that stretch credulity just too far. However if you are prepared to accept the film on just a surface level you will find yourself nicely entertained.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Excellent overlooked Thriller with the forgotten Steve Guttenberg, 20 September 2007 Author: Emaisie39 from United States
Although he rarely gets respect from the critics, Steve Guttenberg was quite a big film star in the 1980's. He made his first impression as a pudgy teenager who gets killed by Gregory Peck in the excellent "Boys From Brazil"(1978). The classic "Diner"(MGM,1982) established him as a fine actor and in "Police Academy"(1984) he was suddenly a buff leading man in a critically maligned yet audience loved box office blockbuster. He was now a "STAR" and the smash hits kept coming: several "Police Academy" sequels, "Short Circuit"(1985) and its sequel, the Oscar-winning classic Ron Howard's "Coccoon"(Universal, 1985) whose pool scene established him as a minor sex symbol, and finally the massive blockbuster "Three Men and a Baby"(Disney, 1987). Director/writer Curtis Hanson then cast him in the excellent Hitchcockian thriller "The Bedroom Window"(1987) alongside another young star of the time Elizabeth McGovern who had made a major impact in "Ragtime"(Paramount, 1981). Now he was a full-fledged star of a Top "A" quality film. This excellent thriller will keep you glued to screen. Hanson's taut direction, the gorgeous cinematography, and the excellent cast will hold your attention. The script has a couple holes but it is still very good. And Guttenberg who had a goofy face and could look geeky if not photographed carefully looks great so this should have been another feather in his cap. However this film tanked. Why I will never know. After this he would have one more big hit with "Three Men and a Little Lady"(Disney, 1990) and that was it. His career never recovered. Nonetheless his best films are definitely worth a look and "The Bedroom Window" is certainly among his best.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Neat Hitchcock-type thriller with unconvincing twists..., 17 October 2006 Author: Neil Doyle from U.S.A.
This is the kind of thriller you'd expect Alfred Hitchcock to do with someone like James Stewart or Cary Grant as everyman.Here we have STEVE GUTTENBERG as the man in big trouble after witnessing a murder from his lover's bedroom window. He's having an affair with the boss' wife and nobly tells her that he'll give details of the assailant (which she saw) to keep their affair hidden from her husband. So far, so good. The story is stylishly photographed with the appropriate menacing mood and atmosphere.But he soon becomes the man suspected of the crime and it's from that point on that the plot contrivances become just a little too implausible, straining credibility until the very suspenseful ending. Too bad. Otherwise, it's a tricky piece of entertainment and well worth watching.ISABELLE HUPPERT has a little trouble getting her lines across with her French accent being quite a handicap but she's beautiful to look at. ELIZABETH McGOVERN does a nice job as Guttenberg's partner in finding the real killer.It moves quickly under writer/director CURTIS HANSON's direction. While many consider it "counterfeit Hitchcock", it's still worth a look.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Entertaining Hitchcock-knock off, 4 May 2006 Author: robb_772 from United States
Sorely underrated thriller from director Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, 8 MILE), who is clearly working in the Hitchcock mode. Many of Hitchcock's favorite subjects are touched upon (including voyeurism, guilt, and the quintessential falsely accused man), as well as many plot devices and set pieces being intentionally cribbed from the Master. The film takes some highly implausible plot twists, and really stretches the limits of credibility on a few occasions, but it always remains entertaining and solidly builds toward a tension-filled finale. The plot includes many of clever touches that will hold most viewers' attention even when the contrivances start piling up.The much-mangled Steve Guttenberg (always critically loathed for his appearances in such dubious eighties' fare as POLICE ACADEMY and SHORT CIRCUIT) may be no James Stewart, but he's a likable enough everyman and manages to get the job done. Plucky Elizabeth McGovern is terrific as a fresh-faced victim who decides to fight back, yet the lovely French actress Isabelle Huppert trips over her lines in a stiff, labored performance (perhaps her lines should have been dubbed). Still, the relationship between the three characters feels legitimate, and this assists viewers in suspending disbelief over a few of the film's more difficult-to-swallow moments. The film looks great and will keep you guessing, so check your brain at the door and have fun!
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Brilliant film !, 19 September 2007 Author: BethH24 from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The bedroom window is a brilliant Hitchcock style thriller.Brad Greenquist is excellent as Henderson.He has an innocent look with some of his expressions that can make other people think that he doesn't look like the kind of person who would kill,but he quietly gives terrifying looks as well.It is amazing that he hardly speaks in the film,and yet gives such a powerful performance.I liked his look in the film,with his red hair and pale skin.I would like to see more of Brad's films,as this is the only film i have seen him in so far. Steve Guttenberg also gives a good performance as Terry Lambert.Elizabeth McGovern gives a very emotional performance as the victim,Denise,and Isabelle Hubert plays Terry's lover,Silvia,very well too.* SPOILER *I haven't seen many thrillers,especially in recent films,where there hasn't been any graphic,gory,and violent scenes to show the killings.There are no scenes like that in this film,it just mentions the killings but doesn't actually show them.The only killing it shows is of sylvia,but you only see her after she has been killed.The film is just full of suspense.I love that it is an old fashioned style thriller too.I think its much better than other thrillers that are around today.I don't think thrillers need to be graphic and violent. I also love the soundtrack to this film.I haven't seen it available to buy anywhere.I would love to buy itI give this film 10/10 for amazing performances from superb actors,an interesting story and a great soundtrack
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