The Trouble with 'Hitchcock': A Rear Window View of Hollywood's Most Notorious Psycho

Based on the book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by film critic/author Stephen Rebello, Hitchcock is the narrative feature debut by Emmy-winning documentarian Sacha Gervasi. The biopic stars Anthony Hopkins as the Master of Suspense and Helen Mirren as his wife and collaborator Alma Reville and the movie focuses on how the making of Psycho caused a major strain on their relationship.

The film has a large supporting cast of recognizable names including Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh, Toni Collette as Hitch's assistant Peggy Robertson, Jessica Biel as Vera Miles, Danny Huston as Strangers on a Train screenwriter Whitfield Cook, Michael Stuhlberg as Hitch's agent Lew Wasserman, James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins, Kurtwood Smith as MPAA director Geoffrey Shurlock and Ralph Macchio as Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stefano. 

After the success of North by Northwest, Hitchcock was asked by a pesky reporter if he should quit while he was ahead. Desperate to prove he's still relevant, Hitchcock finds the ghastly pulp novel Psycho and decides to make that his next project. His circle of friends and colleagues balk at the idea but Hitchcock ignores them and starts setting up the production. Hitchcock casts America's sweetheart Janet Leigh, teen heartthrob Anthony Perkins and no-nonsense Vera Miles in the lead roles. He battles the censors for various graphic details in the book and battles his own health issues. Meanwhile, Alma furthers her friendship/writing partnership with Whitfield Cook both out of jealousy over Hitchcock's admirations for his icy blondes and out of a desire to carve out her own creative identity. Alma's new friendship ignites jealousy in Hitch and the two start to reevaluate their place in each other's lives.

I knew going in that Hitchcock was going to focus more on the Hitch and Alma love story. It's a love story that deserves to be told. The two of them were partners and collaborators, amazingly in tune with each other both behind the camera and at home. But the trouble with Hitchcock is that Alma's partnership with Cook isn't particularly interesting. Danny Huston plays Cook as the stereotypical rascal who hits on married women by being disingenuously charming and Mirren plays Alma Reville as being too smart to fall for such nonsense. So basically there's no tension or suspense because at the end of the day, this friendship doesn't stand a chance of being turned into an affair.

The other trouble with Hitchcock is that Gervasi and screenwriter John J. McLaughlin chose to feature Hitchcock having imaginary conversations with the serial killer who inspired Norman Bates, Ed Gein (Michel Wincott, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). These scenes are utterly pointless because they depict Hitchcock as some sort of sexually-repressed psychopath (like Gein and Bates). It's too on the nose to be believable (like Hitch having a peep hole into an actress's dressing room) and it contradicts the rest of the film's depiction of Hitch as a determined but maybe a little mad genius.

Having said that, however, Hitchcock is an amazingly strong movie when it focuses on the making of Psycho. It's somewhat rewarding to see Hitch and Alma fight for what they believe in and put everything on the line for this passion project. We know Psycho goes on to become a game-changer in Hollywood and Hitch's most recognizable film. It's fun to see his naysayers doubt him, knowing that Hitch always knows what's right when it comes to filmmaking.

I already mentioned that this film has an incredible supporting cast. Scarlett Johansson plays Janet Leigh with respect and affection, portraying the Oscar-nominated actress as warm, funny and extremely professional. There are a lot of great stories about her in Rebello's commentary on the Psycho DVD and they made it into the movie. I also liked Jessica Biel's performance as Vera Miles. Miles and Hitch shared a frosty relationship and it's fun to watch Biel and Hopkins sniping at each other. James D'Arcy looks just like Anthony Perkins and has his nervous energy. There's a joke where Perkins, one of Hollywood's many closeted actors, says he liked both Rope and Strangers on a Train which are known to be Hitchcock's two gay films. It's the best of the in-jokes for Hitchcock fans. Toni Collette and Michael Stuhlberg are terrific as Hitch's two biggest supporters but I wish more time had been allotted for their screen time.

Stars Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren are such legendary actors that they don't need much praise. Hopkins is wonderfully droll and sarcastic as Hitchcock, giving the man a zesty love of cinema and its audiences. Helen Mirren also offers a layered, lived-in performance of a woman questioning her own self-worth.

Hitchcock isn't perfect. Gervasi's direction can be a little drab and his documentarian style doesn't really suit Hitchcock's love of creative cinematic techniques. The script is witty and emotionally honest for the most part, but some of the scenes fall flat (especially the Cook and Gein scenes). But if you can look past that and if you love movies about movies, then Hitchcock is a small but rather enjoyable film about the making of one of the landmark achievements of American cinema.

As a reminder, here's my world-famous ratings system:
1. Buy it on Blu-Ray (must see ASAP)
2. Redbox the DVD (highly recommended)
3. Save it for HBO (deserves commercial-free viewing)
4. Catch it on TBS (doesn't deserve commercial-free viewing)
5. Don't touch it with a 10 foot pole (speaks for itself)

As for Hitchcock, I think you should Redbox the DVD.