In 2012, Alfred Hitchcock's classic psychological thriller Vertigo managed to knock Citizen Kane off the top spot of the prestigious Sight & Sound best 250 films list.

It was the first time a film other than Kane had topped the 'once a decade' poll of film critics since 1962.

But does Vertigo deserve its 'greatest film ever made' accolade, and what's so special about it? Shane Coleman and John Fardy took a look at the film for this week's Cultural Toolbox:

"I just want to say at the outset," John weighed in, "that Hitchcock is one of those people that's almost intimidating to people, because he's this master of cinema.

"But I was watching Vertigo again this week, and just to say to people if you've never seen a Hitchcock, above anything else they are incredibly entertaining. You will just be enthralled".

Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak star in the film, which has an elaborate plot that kicks off when Stewart's character - retired San Francisco detective 'Scottie' - is asked to observe a friend's wife.

What follows is a twist-heavy and psychologically tricky tale, that manages to criss-cross genres and even turn into something almost entirely different around the halfway mark.

"It is one of the most suspenseful movies ever," John gushed. "[And] it's one of the most cryptic movies ever - you're really not sure what's going on almost the whole way through it.

"It is so beautifully shot.... San Francisco is a character in it, and the bridge is a character in it..."

Shane suggested that Kim Novak plays 'the quintessential icy blonde' - a character type Hitchcock was 'obsessed' with over the course of his prolific career, and perhaps most convincingly explored here than in any of his other films.

Jimmy Stewart, meanwhile, was without question one of the great actors of the golden years of Hollywood, but John argued Vertigo was "his best role... there's shades to him you haven't seen before".

Shane and John discussed some of the key themes of the film, such as the obsession Scottie develops over Novac's character Madeleine. French filmmaker Chris Marker explored that aspect in his acclaimed 'film essay' Sans Soleil, during which it is suggested Vertigo was the only film "capable of portraying impossible memory, insane memory".

"We should also mention Hitchcock was obsessed with murder, and how murder affected the everyman," John explained. "His movies contain absolutely multitudes - but I don't want to get lost in that stuff because as I said they are relentlessly entertaining".

Oh, and let's not forget that soundtrack, which combines brilliantly with Hitchcock's expert filmmaking for a cinematic experience like few others. 

Hitchcock's best film? Very probably. Best film of all time? Certainly there are very few films that feel quite so deserving of that accolade...