Hitchcock [REVIEW]

Hitchcock, played by a very fat and very unrecognizable Anthony Hopkins, has difficulty in getting the studios to finance Psycho. So he and his loyal wife Alma, played by Helen Mirren, decide that they will finance the film themselves, even if it means losing everything they have (including a very nice home with a large swimming pool).

Once production starts on Psycho, it involves and absorbs every minute of Hitchcock's time. Meanwhile, his wife has been asked by a very dashing and handsome family friend (Danny Huston of the Huston acting family dynasty) to help him with a screenplay he is writing. This leads to him and Alma spending lots of time at his beach house. Hitchcock gets suspicious, and with combined pressures of bringing the movie in on budget and dealing with the various personalities on the set, Hitchcock comes close to losing it. Alma steps in and takes over the production while Hitchcock takes a few much needed days off. Psycho is eventually finished, and turns out to be one of Hitchcock's most acclaimed and successful films.

This film should be successful as well. Hopkins is perfect as Hitchcock, and Mirren is as good as his wife. It's a shame that neither one of them have been nominated for an Oscar for their performances in this film. Scarlett Johansson plays Janet Leigh, she of the very famous Psycho shower scene. Johansson has the looks and beauty of a 1960's actress. Other fine performances in this film include Toni Collette as the actress who never made it big because she chose family over acting, and Jessica Biel as the actress Vera Miles. Director Sacha Gervasi and screenwriter John J. McLaughlin keep the action and suspense going, even as the viewer knows how the film is going to end.

Hitchcock is a very good biographical drama of the making of Psycho. But if you haven't seen Psycho, see it first. Both films are a are must sees, but Psycho is in a class by itself.

Tim Baros

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Tim Baros has worked in the derivatives industry for several large financial institutions in both the U.S. and the U.K, and still has a job in the City, despite the doom and gloom of the industry. Tim enjoys writing and has had articles published in Touch London, Pride Life, SquareMile.com and American Magazine.