Before watching
this wonderful bio-drama directed by Sacha Gervasi, ask yourselves just one
question...
Are you a
worshipper of Alfred Hitchcock and his movies, especially Psycho ?
If no, then this
movie is just another boring drama where you have no idea about who is going
through what. If you don’t even know who Hitchcock is, if you’re one of those first time hearing his name – type of
oblivious living beings, completely avoid this movie instead of watching and ranting about it later. But if you’re a
fan of Hitchcock, and especially a fan of Psycho, here is something you can
geek about. Hitchcock is a movie about the making of a movie which had kept 60%
of the Americans away from having showers. It focuses on the relationship
between Hitchcock and his wife Alma during the production days of Psycho.
Well what can
you expect from this movie?
If you are a fan
like me, expect a wide grin on your face the moment you see Hitchcock handing
the novel Psycho to his wife and
saying “I just want you to read a little bit here, it takes place in the motel
Bathroom”. Find yourself documenting each every detail of the Production and go
OMG when you see the sets
of those phenomenal scenes of Psycho we all know about. Expect yourself
floating in the air, when you see your Norman Bates in Anthony Perkins’
look-alike James D’Arcy, when you see the use of a rear screen and a dummy car
to film the scene of Janet Leigh running away, when you see Hitchcock and co.
discussing about the music for the Shower scene and when you see secretary Peggy
saying “I think I’ll never have Shower again”. Expect yourself to go nostalgic
every now and then in those little moments. We are talking about a movie that
is talking about what the makers went through when they were busy making our
favourite movie.
If you’re a good
observer, you’ll notice certain scenes in this movie that serve as a nod to
Hitchcock’s obsession with voyeurism, something which is also reflected in
Psycho itself. If you’re a film-maker, you’ll relate yourself with the hurdles a
director has to go through with the censor and the Studio CEOs to retain his
artistic vision. If you’re a family man, you’ll realise what it feels like to
work in a glamour world and still hold your family, your collateral assets and your secret temptations on the charming blondes together. But what we all observe in the end is a vibrant
celebration of the making of Psycho and a perfect tribute to the Master of
Suspense. I am sure that this movie would have impressed Hitchcock himself, if
he were alive.
Based on a novel
Alfred Hitchcock and Making of Psycho,
the film opens in 1959 after the success of one of my favourites, North by
Northwest. You are greeted with the sumptuous production design of 1960s,
equivalent dressing and a Corpulent badly figure of Hithcock himself, thanks to
some amazing make-up work on Anthony Hopkins. Getting obsessed with the novel
Psycho, and eventually deciding to bring it on screen, Alfred finds everybody
displeased around him with his decision. But he casually quips about that
saying, “That’s the whole point my dear”. After failing to find producers for
his movie, Hitchcock hangs his finances in balance, after selling his house to
back his movie. These are one of those took-by-gut decisions, which make great
stories worthwhile to make a movie out of them. From here the movie takes a
turn like suspense movie, despite the fact that we know how ends. But the
suspense is not of any murderer and the victim here is not a blonde. The
suspense lies in how Hitch manages to show nudity without showing nudity, how succumbs
to his own subconscious’ thoughts and his nightmarish-delusional rendezvous
with Ed Gein , how he puts his assets at stake, falls ill, gets rejected and
still manages to make a movie that scared the hell out of an entire generation.
The suspense lies in how he will retain his well-mastered artistic creativity
with all these cobwebs around him.
Sasha Gervasi
took excellent care in every detail of the movie, from casting to production
design to the look of the movie. They way he treats all the scenes, especially
while dealing with all the nostalgic references, shows his respect for the
master himself. Though there is a danger in getting lost in the Aura of Psycho,
Gervasi still manages to keep the focus of the story on relationship between the
main leads. It’s a sumptuously shot movie, cinematography wise, full of
brightness and colours. The screenplay is amazing, with dialogues varying from
the witty tongue –in-cheek British style humour to serious conversations. The
leads get the best of the dialogue. They not only provide us many a laugh but
also keep us hooked and engaged even when they are in a serious exchange of words.
Hence the one-on-one scenes of the lead roles stand out in the movie despite so
much nostalgia surrounding them. Though not a fan, but atleast as a general
audience, you’ll find yourself rooting for these characters.
The casting is
fantastic to say the least. Interestingly, Anthony Hopkins, who played Hannibal
Lecter in silence of Lambs, a Character inspired by Ed Goin, is cast as Alfred
Hitchcock, whose Norman Bates was also inspired by Ed Goin. I am convinced that
our generation fans don’t have to cry for not having seen Hitchcock. Because
Anthony Hopkins is the closest of what we can possibly get to see of Alfred.
Thanks to the magic of Make-up and prosthetics, the shadow of his Plump figure
and balloon like face itself is enough to convince you that he is the man
indeed. Add that to Hopkins’ effective performance, his funny accent and his
expressions, you will feel the essence of Hitchcock in Hopkins, right through the movie. From Hannibal
Lecter to Hitchcock, what a transformation has he gone through. It’s quiet
unbelievable that it’s been twenty odd years between Hannibal and Hitchcock. But the real show stealing performance is by Helen
Mirren. With her startling act as Hitch’s wife, Helen gives you a perfect idea of how it feels to be sidelined amist the fame of her genious husband. Battling her way to find her own thing with her personal life, Alma still remains that one woman who is behind every great Psycho. Watch out for that scene where she bursts out in a fury of monologue at her husband and asks him to stop treating her like his "Contracted blondes". And off-course,
Scarlett Johansson is so beautiful; you’ll have to watch her under parental
guidance.
All in all, Hitchcock
is one of the funniest bio-pics i have ever seen. It’s cleverly written, well
casted and well-directed movie. The story has been treated with humour and respect, instead of making it into the usual boring self-introspection banter
with dark and brooding overtones. This movie is more of Light-hearted tribute,
a love letter in all sorts to the man himself and his iconic motion picture. I've
enjoyed this so much that I stayed awake till 3:30 am to complete this review after
having watched it by 12 at midnight. Because after all, I am a Hitchcock
worshipper too.
