Hitchcock (B or 3/4 stars)
'Hitchcock' (directed & co-written by newcomer Sacha Gervasi) looks at a strenuous window of time for the acclaimed director as he labors to make his greatest success, Psycho, amid a sea of studio head doubters, and a crossroads in his marriage. This film begins in 1959 where Alfred Hitchcock's (Anthony Hopkins) latest film, North by Northwest, has just been released in theaters to rave reviews & audience cheers. During an interview, he is asked: "You're the most famous director in the history of this medium, but you're 60 yrs. old, shouldn't you just quit while you're ahead?" But Hitchcock has no intention of stopping; convincing himself that he wants to do "something fresh, something different" in order to stir up the passion that propelled him to direct in the 1st place.
Hitchcock happens upon 'Psycho', a novel inspired by the true-life story of a Wisconsin serial killer. But even with all his prior success, he has trouble convincing the head of Paramount Pictures - Barney Balaban - to distribute the film until he offers to finance the $800,000 budget himself. Hitchcock's talented screenwriter wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), worries that his gamble won't pay-off & that their glamorous Bel Air home may be lost. Their marriage is going through a rough patch due to his moodiness, stubbornness, & obsession with Grace Kelly-types; including Janet Leigh (a stellar Scarlett Johansson), cast as the lead in Psycho. Furthermore, Alma's flirtatious collaboration with a fellow screenwriter, Whitfield "Whit" Cook (Danny Huston), raise Hitchcock's eyebrows.
The main appeal of 'Hitchcock' is similar to that of last yr.'s. My Week with Marilyn: pulling aside the curtain & watching the details of how a film was made in a bygone era. Sacha Gervasi makes the most of the wit, presence, & creativity that vet actors Anthony Hopkins & (particularly) Helen Mirren bring to their roles, here. The screenplay helps us see the large role Alma played in the creation & success of Psycho. Mirren's performance raises the level of this film with every look & line delivery, and also brings an emotional depth to the story that was much needed. It is interesting to watch this couple's loving partnership play out as they work together on every minute detail of Psycho; demonstrating the unorthodox approaches, professionalism, & determination to create excellence.
One of the greater moments in this film takes place during the premiere of Psycho. Hopkins stands in the lobby and, like an orchestra conductor, waves his arms in sync with Psycho's score as the audience screamingly responds to the horrific shower sequence {the crowd I saw this with was riotous with laughter}. And it's a delightful way to show how the checkered story of the making of Psycho concluded. Though I would have liked Hopkins to sink deeper into this larger-than-life role, I still found him thoroughly charismatic. Other portrayals by Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, & James D'Arcy (as Anthony Perkins) impress.
One of the few missteps, however, is having Hitchcock haunted by the imagined presence of the Wisconsin serial killer who inspired Psycho. To me, there wasn't a need to add yet another demon to the psyche of a man who already had issues concerning voyeurism, alcohol, over-eating & jealousy. Still, I found 'Hitchcock' to be an amusing, well-acted, good-looking, if sometimes clumsy, surface-level dissection of one of Hollywood's most enigmatic directors. You'll find more thorough examinations of our condescending, megalomaniac protagonist elsewhere. But as is, 'Hitchcock' offered me an entertaining 95 min.; bookended with neat scenes where Hopkins cheekily welcomes & dismisses us (the audience) like from one of his masterpieces.
Hitchcock happens upon 'Psycho', a novel inspired by the true-life story of a Wisconsin serial killer. But even with all his prior success, he has trouble convincing the head of Paramount Pictures - Barney Balaban - to distribute the film until he offers to finance the $800,000 budget himself. Hitchcock's talented screenwriter wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), worries that his gamble won't pay-off & that their glamorous Bel Air home may be lost. Their marriage is going through a rough patch due to his moodiness, stubbornness, & obsession with Grace Kelly-types; including Janet Leigh (a stellar Scarlett Johansson), cast as the lead in Psycho. Furthermore, Alma's flirtatious collaboration with a fellow screenwriter, Whitfield "Whit" Cook (Danny Huston), raise Hitchcock's eyebrows.
The main appeal of 'Hitchcock' is similar to that of last yr.'s. My Week with Marilyn: pulling aside the curtain & watching the details of how a film was made in a bygone era. Sacha Gervasi makes the most of the wit, presence, & creativity that vet actors Anthony Hopkins & (particularly) Helen Mirren bring to their roles, here. The screenplay helps us see the large role Alma played in the creation & success of Psycho. Mirren's performance raises the level of this film with every look & line delivery, and also brings an emotional depth to the story that was much needed. It is interesting to watch this couple's loving partnership play out as they work together on every minute detail of Psycho; demonstrating the unorthodox approaches, professionalism, & determination to create excellence.
One of the greater moments in this film takes place during the premiere of Psycho. Hopkins stands in the lobby and, like an orchestra conductor, waves his arms in sync with Psycho's score as the audience screamingly responds to the horrific shower sequence {the crowd I saw this with was riotous with laughter}. And it's a delightful way to show how the checkered story of the making of Psycho concluded. Though I would have liked Hopkins to sink deeper into this larger-than-life role, I still found him thoroughly charismatic. Other portrayals by Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, & James D'Arcy (as Anthony Perkins) impress.
One of the few missteps, however, is having Hitchcock haunted by the imagined presence of the Wisconsin serial killer who inspired Psycho. To me, there wasn't a need to add yet another demon to the psyche of a man who already had issues concerning voyeurism, alcohol, over-eating & jealousy. Still, I found 'Hitchcock' to be an amusing, well-acted, good-looking, if sometimes clumsy, surface-level dissection of one of Hollywood's most enigmatic directors. You'll find more thorough examinations of our condescending, megalomaniac protagonist elsewhere. But as is, 'Hitchcock' offered me an entertaining 95 min.; bookended with neat scenes where Hopkins cheekily welcomes & dismisses us (the audience) like from one of his masterpieces.