Good Evening...
The Story:
It's 1959, and Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) is riding high on the success of North by Northwest. When he's questioned by reporters if he shouldn't just quit now while he's on top, he takes that as a personal challenge and prepares for his next project with his wife, Alma (Helen Mirren). Hitch wants to do something personal and daring, and when the studio has no desire to indulge his latest project, he decides to bankroll it himself. A lot is riding on his gamble... what are the odds that a disturbing film based on a true story would be a hit? And so begins... Psycho.
Sorta nifty.
Much like I claimed that Lincoln was totally misnamed, Hitchcock fares a little better.
While it is an entertaining look at what went on, or at least allegedly went on, as Hitchcock created his now cinematic masterpiece, there's more to this story than that.
No, the real heart and soul of this movie belongs to Alma Reville, Hitchcock's wife and partner for just about his entire career. Mirren is phenomenal as always, and she brings more to the table, for me, than anyone else in the cast by miles.
Hopkins is rendered almost invisible under the makeup, but the pursey pronunciations to try and mimic Hitch's voice and speech patterns can snap you out of the trance of what you're watching. That's never a good thing.
What Hitchcock had to do to make Psycho a hit is great cinema. It appears that we owe much of Hitchcock's brilliance to his wife, and if nothing else...
That's the real takeaway from this movie.
Final Grade: B-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was alright, but I think once was enough. The more you love Hitch though, the more apt this movie is to replayed in your home.
The Story:
It's 1959, and Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) is riding high on the success of North by Northwest. When he's questioned by reporters if he shouldn't just quit now while he's on top, he takes that as a personal challenge and prepares for his next project with his wife, Alma (Helen Mirren). Hitch wants to do something personal and daring, and when the studio has no desire to indulge his latest project, he decides to bankroll it himself. A lot is riding on his gamble... what are the odds that a disturbing film based on a true story would be a hit? And so begins... Psycho.
Sorta nifty.
Much like I claimed that Lincoln was totally misnamed, Hitchcock fares a little better.
While it is an entertaining look at what went on, or at least allegedly went on, as Hitchcock created his now cinematic masterpiece, there's more to this story than that.
No, the real heart and soul of this movie belongs to Alma Reville, Hitchcock's wife and partner for just about his entire career. Mirren is phenomenal as always, and she brings more to the table, for me, than anyone else in the cast by miles.
Hopkins is rendered almost invisible under the makeup, but the pursey pronunciations to try and mimic Hitch's voice and speech patterns can snap you out of the trance of what you're watching. That's never a good thing.
What Hitchcock had to do to make Psycho a hit is great cinema. It appears that we owe much of Hitchcock's brilliance to his wife, and if nothing else...
That's the real takeaway from this movie.
Final Grade: B-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was alright, but I think once was enough. The more you love Hitch though, the more apt this movie is to replayed in your home.
No comments:
Post a Comment