"She won't be nude. She'll be wearing a shower cap." Alfred Hitchcock really tests the production code with his new film "Psycho", with not only a scene in a shower with a naked woman but with its theme as well. This is an unsanitized account of the making of probably Hitchcock's most notorious film, and Anthony Hopkins is truly amazing as the legendary director, perhaps a bit thinner than the master of suspense but unforgettable none the less. His devoted wife who helps him with the project is played by fellow British legend Helen Mirren, and she is also very good.
Certainly you could make a film about Hitchcock behind the scenes on any of his films, but choosing "Psycho" as a subject creates an instant interest. The issue is that there really isn't much story because pretty much every major film goes through challenges, and it takes a lot to keep the audience interested. It's just a matter of seeing these iconic scenes recreated and Hitchcock at work that creates an instant interest. Scarlet Johanson doesn't fully resemble Janet Leigh and certainly doesn't sound like her, but it's an acceptable casting choice because the story truly just focuses on Hitchcock and his wife.
Since the roles of the other actors in the film is really all that exciting as far as a casting is concerned although there are a few interesting elements regarding Vera Miles), the camera's eye on Hopkins and Mirren does provide a unique behind-the-scenes aspect to both this film and its subject. Every little aspect of Hitchcock is fascinating to watch through the performance of Hopkins who is as fascinating an actor as Hitchcock was as a celebrated director who had his own celebrity following. The fact that Mirren got award accolades and not Hopkins is bizarre although both are deserving. So while this is not an excellent film, it is a fun blast to the past and a valentine to a legendary director whose artistic flair has created many classics.
Certainly you could make a film about Hitchcock behind the scenes on any of his films, but choosing "Psycho" as a subject creates an instant interest. The issue is that there really isn't much story because pretty much every major film goes through challenges, and it takes a lot to keep the audience interested. It's just a matter of seeing these iconic scenes recreated and Hitchcock at work that creates an instant interest. Scarlet Johanson doesn't fully resemble Janet Leigh and certainly doesn't sound like her, but it's an acceptable casting choice because the story truly just focuses on Hitchcock and his wife.
Since the roles of the other actors in the film is really all that exciting as far as a casting is concerned although there are a few interesting elements regarding Vera Miles), the camera's eye on Hopkins and Mirren does provide a unique behind-the-scenes aspect to both this film and its subject. Every little aspect of Hitchcock is fascinating to watch through the performance of Hopkins who is as fascinating an actor as Hitchcock was as a celebrated director who had his own celebrity following. The fact that Mirren got award accolades and not Hopkins is bizarre although both are deserving. So while this is not an excellent film, it is a fun blast to the past and a valentine to a legendary director whose artistic flair has created many classics.