Hitchcock

 “Hitchcock” stars Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johannson and Danny Huston in what basically is the story of the making of the movie “Psycho”. It’s also the story of a very involved and unusual marriage between Alva and Alfred and his apparent fetish for blonde starlets and stars. Written by John J. McLaughlin and abetted by first time director Sacha Gervasi, this is an interesting film which purports to take the audience behind the Paramount gates and reveal the ins, outs, ups and downs of the industry and those who, as the saying goes, “are only as good as their last picture”. Followed by “The Birds and at least 5 other films, Hitchcock never achieved that level of commercial success as he did with “Psycho”. Unlike the HBO special “The Girl” which basically told the story of “The Birds”, this film, although baring some negative aspects of the lead character, also shows him, and most importantly, his wife Alva, as talented and able members of the industry. It also highlights the important role of editing and, in the case of Psycho, how a badly received first cut of the film can, with proper changes on and from off the cutting room floor, become a major success. Perhaps, quite fittingly, being given the Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, (he never won an Oscar),  Mr. Hitchcock stated that he also accepts the award on behalf of his wife Alva. Proof once again that behind most great men are women in the shadows who should have been given the prominence they so often deserve but never receive.. Enough can’t be said of Helen Mirren and her performance. She enriches the screen in every role she plays and, in the subject film, does her participation great justice. For Ms. Mirren’s outstanding performance, it truly is her film, and the ability of the movie to tell the story in

an interesting and viewer friendly manner, I give it 3 stars.