The movie Hitchcock premiered tonight on HBO. I had wanted to see it, but never got around to it. I knew I would enjoy it as I own a Hitchcock box set & have watched almost everything he's made. *On a side note, Rear Window is my all time favorite Hitchcock movie!
I was a little shocked by the movie, I new the plot was a behind the scenes look at Hitch, as he is called by everyone who works with and loves him, and the making of the biggest cinematic success of his career Psycho. What I didn't know is that it was also a sneak peak into his private life and marriage to Alma Reville long time creative collaborator, played by the mesmerizing Helen Mirren. Hitch is brought to quirky and flawed life by an virtually unrecognizable Anthony Hopkins. As for the rest of the actors it's your typical who's who of character actors with Scarlett Johansson and the Karate Kid himself Ralph Macchio thrown in. But this movie would be nothing without Mirren & Hopkins making these real people with real problems seem a little less than famous and more like people you would know.
It's kind of amusing that Hitch picked Psycho because a reporter suggested that he should retire at age 60 after the premier of North by Northwest. After being told "no" by Paramount Pictures, hardnosed meetings with the Shurlock board (which seems like the FCC or Standards and Practices), and putting up more than $800,000 of his own money Hitch still pushes forward to make what really ends up looking like a passion project. When most directors have a passion it's to make a documentary about the environment, Hitchcock on the other hand had a passion to reclaim a little of the excitement he and Alma had making movies together in the beginning of their careers.
By far this movie is a keeper & worth the 1 hour 45 minute run time. Not only do you get the great behind the scenes look of what it took to make a classic movie we all love, but you end the movie feeling like you actually know the man behind the movies. What's also wonderful is Alma Reville finally gets the credit she deserves, not just for Psycho but for all of the Hitchcock movies that still fill us with tension & chills.
