Hitchcock

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Hitchcock.

Directed by Sacha Gervasi.

Written by John J. McLaughlin.

Based on the novel "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho". Written by Stephen Rebello.

Review #197

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content and thematic material.

Run Time: 98 min

Cast

Anthony Hopkins...Alfred Hitchcock

Helen Mirren...Alma Reville

Scarlett Johansson...Janet Leigh

Danny Huston...Whitfield Cook

Toni Collette...Peggy Robertson

Michael Stuhlbarg...Lew Wasserman

Michael Wincott...Ed Gein

Jessica Biel...Vera Miles

James D'Arcy...Anthony Perkins

Richard Portnow...Barney Balaban

Kurtwood Smith...Geoffrey Shurlock

Ralph Macchio...Joseph Stefano

When it comes to suspense in cinema. There is only person that has truly mastered it.

Hitchcock.

One of motion pictures most heralded and respected auteurs. His work has influenced many of the games top film makers and if he hasn't then it's time for these people to go back to school. Hitchcock was a visionary not to mention a controversial director. A lot of his choices and style were met with scrutiny and resistance from what was back then the MPAA. Otherwise known as the censor bureau. My only regret is that he isn't alive today. Mystery and suspense films would be so much better compared to the crap that's made in this day and age. Since he isn't with us anymore we are now being treated to bio pics of the man behind some of the best films in horror, mystery and suspense history.

Plot

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959.  

This isn't the only Hitchcock film made this year. HBO presented us with The Girl. It was very similar to this film. The difference between the two is that in The Girl, the focus was predominantly on Hitchcock's fascination with Tippi Hedren during the filming of The Birds. Hitchcock on the other hand delves more into Hitch's attempt to make Psycho and the pitfalls that surrounded it. Both films are both good but they also have the same problem.

Believability.

I'm not going to get into a review of The Girl so this will be my last mention of it. The parts of The Girl and Hitchcock that make it both compelling and odd is the fact that the main issues that Hitch had with his leading ladies are never confirmed to actually have happened. They are just big time Tinseltown folklore. No one actually has proof that Hitch was obsessed with beautiful blondes. Or how he used his sexual tension and attraction with them to "manipulate" the talent so he could get the performance he needed. This made the film tough to read because deciphering fact from fiction required some suspension of disbelief. It's really a shame because Anthony Hopkins plays Hitchcock with the right amount of mystery and intimidation to make you unsettled just enough to buy what he's selling.

This is the shining light of the movie. Hopkins was awesome as Hitchcock. The resemblance isn't as spot on like Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln but it was close enough. What sold me more than the looks was Hopkins portrayal. He carried himself like Hitchcock. The walk and body demeanor was like I remembered from old interviews and clips I've seen. The movie always stalled when Hitch wasn't on the screen. I enjoyed his performance. Another good performance was Helen Mirren as Alma. She was unquestionably the yin to Alfred's yang.

I never knew this but she ghost wrote on a lot of the films that he directed. Including Psycho. The disconnect between the two became evident when Psycho was being produced and it all comes to a head in a very well done scene when Alma stands up for herself after Hitch complains of lack of support from her. Alma also showed off her considerable power that many thought she didn't have. The scene where this happens will be obvious.

The rest of the cast is serviceable. Nobody else stands out. Scarlett Johannson might be the only one as Janet Leigh. She looked nothing like her but her performance takes you away from that fact. She was actually pretty good. Considering that I don't think she's a good actress by any stretch of the imagination.

The biggest problem I have with Hitchcock is a recurring theme between Hitchcock and the inspiration for both the film and book, Psycho. Ed Gein. That name should sound familiar to you horror nuts. He's also the inspiration for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. In Hitchcock, for some odd reason, Hitch imagines Gein in his mind during portions of filming or at home. Like a voice in his head. This was very weird and poorly presented. Were we to think that Hitch and Gein knew each other? Were Gein and Hitch connected unconsciously in some way? Is that how Hitch gets his motivations for his films?

All of these questions were rumbling through my head as the film was playing and it was unclear what the answer was if one even existed. It looked like a way to keep this film from being a straight laced by the numbers account of how Hitch made Psycho. The problem is that should have been the way to go. The film plays so well when seen in that mode. Taking the titular character to parts unknown throws the balance off and con volutes the story. There was no need to go that way. There was plenty of intrigue and mystery surrounding the main characters to last the run time. I wonder of the book this film was based on had Hitch's same imaginary friend. If it did I'm sure it would have been a better read, cause it didn't work for me on the screen.

On the 5 star scale. Hitchcock gets 2.5 stars. With a "Netflix It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Jack Reacher.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"