In Love: “Hitchcock” Film Review

The Showbook Rating 3/5 stars

“I beg permission to mention by name only four people who have given me the most affection, appreciation, encouragement, and constant collaboration. The first of the four is a film editor, the second is a scriptwriter, the third is the mother of my daughter Pat [Patricia Hitchcock], and the fourth is as fine a cook as ever performed miracles in a domestic kitchen. And their names are Alma Reville.”

-- Alfred Hitchcock

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For some who may be itching to see a film about how marvelous and intriguing Alfred Hitchcock is, better look somewhere else. For this film is all about the softer side of the great director – particularly the heartaches, the inner side – the complex love story of Alma Reville and Alfred Hitchcock.

The film lets us in the process of making the spine-tingling 1960 thriller – PSYCHO, before it became the director’s most controversial and legendary film. A movie that according to this story, was a labor of love of husband and wife Alfred and Alma Hitchcock.

Anthony Hopkins lets us in to another spectacular performance as Alfred Hitchcock. In a time where the ingredients to get an Oscar is to lose weight, gain weight, change your voice, it was quite a surprise that Mr. Hopkins did not get an Oscar nod this year. Having watched some of the entries, I believe that he should at least be part of the nominees. I do not know much about Alma Reville to say that Helen Mirren did a good job in the film, but in a rather weird way, she was able to show that she is the star of the show, that Alfred Hitchcock is who he is because of her.

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Great actors, great concept, however I felt that there is not much room to become stellar in the material that was presented. I felt that the dilemmas presented are quite shallow and the building up is not sufficient. There are also some scenes that puts Hitchcock in a rather unfavorable light, which was a little disappointing. Even the dilemmas that Alma Reville goes through, it felt like some scenes have to be stretched out just to make something out of the characters.

Ultimately, what resonates in the film is the genuine love of Alma and Alfred Hitchcock for each other. You watch the film because of Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren. The banter between the two was fun, the chemistry is spot on, and the acting, superb. It won’t hurt to watch PSYCHO too, to know why this film mattered.

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