Hitchcock
★★★
(2012)
Sacha Gervasi's sharply focused film about the master of suspense, much like Spielberg's Oscar favorite Lincoln, sets its sights on a specific short period in its subjects life. Where as 5 years ago the pair of these well made films may have evolved into sprawling biopic territory, we are becoming much happier in taking in big lives in bite size chunks. Alfred Hitchcock (A nearly more prosthetic than man performance by Anthony Hopkins) is about to begin work on his 1960 shocker Psycho much to the dismay of his studio, friends and his wife and parter Alma (Helen Mirren). The source novels horrible content (based on the life of serial killer Ed Gein) would prompt the studio to pull out of financially backing it seeing a commercial suicide and critical failure. "We don't want another Vertigo." is what they are reported to have said.
Gervasi sets about painting a short story of a man, confident in his profession but not in his personal life. Hitchcock becomes increasingly more concerned with a relationship on the brink than a film about a film, using Hitch's infatuation with his blonde leading ladies to spark Alma's own doubt in their 30 year marriage. Scarlett Johansson fills out her role as Janet Leigh and as Hitchcock's newest obsession while the always great Danny Huston as a rival writer, snares Alma to help him adapt a novel. As the obsession in making Psycho consumes Hitch and Alma begins to wander, Gervasi turns the heat down a little bit too much.
Hopkins performance is more of a general embodiment of Hitch rather than a spot on impersonation. He focuses on a few trademark idiosyncrasies but veers well away from a caricature. Mirren is equally great here, not letting the mammoth personality she is married to over shadow her for a second, playing right up to Hopkins and his stubbornness, especially in the films best scene, a great screaming verbal dressing down towards the film's end. For movie fans however and especially fans of Psycho you may feel a little disappointed in the brisk handling of the filming.
Perhaps there in lies the problem with Hitchcock. It is far too brief a snap shot. There are good performances and its beautifully filmed but a big character seems deserving of a little more time. Bar a few extended scenes, including Hitch loosing it with Leigh and stabbing her in the infamous shower scene and the projector breaking down behind her car during filming, the tales of the making of the film aren't even really extended upon, let alone anything much more meaty. However, it's an intriguing small tale of independent film making and an admirable attempt by Gervasi at a story of unique relationship trouble in the midst of an artists big headedness, but one can't help but think that a grand sprawling biopic is what the master of suspense is in need of.
