Review of Hitchcock (2012) by Midlands M — 19 Oct 2013

"She won't be nude, she'll be wearing a shower cap". A great film about a great filmmaker, Hitchcock covers the master of suspense's making of Psycho played out against the notorious marriage issues with his wife and frequent collaborator Alma Reville (played by a brilliant Helen Mirren, herself married to a director in real life).

A biopic that has nods to all of Hitchcock's output, from his blonde obsessions and voyeurism through to a Hermann-esque score by the composer Danny Elfman, the film is not a warts-and-all portrayal of Hitchcock as director Sacha Gervasi (The Story of Anvil) uses a bit too much gloss but anyone with even a passing interest in the work of "Hitch" will find delights from start to finish.

The director plays with Hitchockian suspense across the couple's arguments and through Hopkins' attempts at orchestrating audience scares (literally in one brilliant scene) and the uncertainty of getting the film made at all keeps the interest up throughout.

Hopkins' portrayal avoids caricature and the film bookends itself using Hitchcock's own "Presents" TV show as well as including clever references to the film and book's inspiration, serial killer Ed Gein, but it is in fact Mirren who makes the best victim as we empathise with her dual role and desires to be a good wife, motherly figure and supporter to the difficult director.

With great actors roped in as support, this is a fun and enjoyable film that analyses the making of film itself without a shadow of a doubt. 8/10 Midlands Movies Mike.