Movie review: Hitchcock against all odds

Hitchcock, directed by Sacha Gervasi, centers on the latter part of Hitchcock’s career.

Can a movie, even a standard biopic about Alfred Hitchcock, possibly do justice to such a legendary master of the same medium? It’s hard to say for sure. But if we can leave aside overwhelming expectations of a tribute and look at the film for what it is, the conclusion is that this is indeed an enjoyable film.

Hitchcock, directed by British journalist and screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, centers on the latter part of Hitchcock’s career. After North By Northwest, the press subtly and not-so-subtly floated the idea that he was ripe for retirement, but he proved them wrong with what is probably his most notorious and terrifying film: Psycho.

We see Hitchcock’s immense resolve in making Psycho, as he self-finances the costs and gives away almost half the profits to reluctant distributors. The film eventually takes its toll on his marriage to Alma Reville (Helen Mirren). Jealousy, insecurity, emotional demands begin to weigh into Hitch’s Freudian subconscious.

Was Sir Anthony Hopkins the right choice to play Hitchcock, given that other formidable British actors could have done a serviceable job? Hopkins looks nothing like Alfred Hitchcock, of course, mainly because he’s not nearly as fat. It’s like they took a short, skinny man and tried to make him resemble a middle-sized man with a glandular problem and a pot belly. And unfortunately he stills looks like Hopkins with prosthetics. But he gets all the basics right — the speech patterns, the stoic face, the body language, and even the nuances of emotion as he discusses his passion for film and his need for artistic freedom.

Unsurprisingly, Helen Mirren is superb. She steals the show by giving an outstanding performance of a support player. And in the best scenes, she brings out the best in Hopkins. True to her role in the film, she gives what film reviewers call an “understated” performance.

I was sceptical at first about the idea of Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh but her performance is eventually convincing.  The rest of the cast is quite fitting, particularly James D’Arcy as Anthony Perkins and Ralph Macchio as Hitchcock’s neurotic screenwriter, Joseph Stefano.

All in all, this was an enjoyable film.  Just don’t expect Hitchcock to be as good as a film by, well, Hitchcock.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, February 3^rd, 2013.

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