Hitchcock May 28, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, People, Writing & Writers.trackback
Hitchcock’s namesake movie, a masterful portrayal of the mind behind Psycho and other thrilling thrillers, demonstrates how often “brilliant” partners with “bizarre.”
What an odd and peculiar man.
Anthony Hopkins, as Hitchcock, is unsettling, encouraging viewers to keep one eye open at all times. Helen Mirren, as his muse and wife, Alma Hitchcock, is fabulous, proving the adage ~ “Behind every great man is a great woman.”
Perfect cast. Crisp script. One-liners laced with poisonous dry wit. We found nothing not to like in this period piece that peers through holes in the veneer and sees sides we’ve tried to hide.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Have you seen it? Does it mesh with your vision of the man behind the movies?
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Spirit Lights The Way 
I’ll bet Anthony Hopkins does play a great Hitch! We watched some Twilight Zones the other night…Hitchcock was indeed bizarre, yet brilliant!
He didn’t look or sound like Anthony Hopkins . . . he had the Hitchcock cadence and rolling walk down pat. The views of Hitchcock’s interior mindscape . . . creepy! 😯
Just saw this movie this weekend and it was great!
I love movies that pleasantly surprise us. This one did. I expected to find it interesting, but not enjoyable. Instead, it was BOTH.
Sounds good! Two of my favourite actors as well. I went to the movies today – first time in ages – and saw “Song for Marion”. I haven’t cried so much in a long time!!!
They are FANTASTIC in these roles. Just superb. I haven’t heard of “Song for Marion.” I’ll give it a google.
I missed this one in theaters, Nancy. It was there for a blip and was gone. Good to know it’s worth a look-see.
It is . . . especially for fans of Helen Mirren and/or Hopkins.
I haven’t seen the movie, but I doubt that anyone could do a better job of portraying Alfred Hitchcock in as comically colorful a way as Mr. Hitchcock did himself.
If someone could do a better job of portraying Hitchcock than Hitchcock . . . that would be some amazing actor. 😉
Sounds great, and God bless Hoppo and Dame Mirren. Wheel them on, I say.
Hitchcock was not a particularly comfortable person, I hear. Poor old Tippi Hendren had a right time of it in The Birds thanks to his machinations.
He’s so odd in this movie, but also oddly likable . . . like a favorite eccentric uncle.
I saw this a while ago and agree that it was very good. I didn’t expect much and got a lot. Should have known with Hopkins and Mirren it would be really good.
That’s exactly how we felt, Patricia . . . we weren’t expecting much and got much more than expected.
Sounds like a great review Nancy, enough to entice me to go see it. With Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren in it, it’s got to be a winner.
It’s one of the best movies we’ve seen this year . . . doubly delicious because we grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock on TV. It’s out on DVD in the states, so you shouldn’t have to pay big bucks to see it on the big screen . . . although that might ADD to the atmosphere.
I can’t wait to see this, Nancy! Sounds like a real winner 😀
We both loved it, Dianne. A great movie to kick back, relax, and enjoy with popcorn. 😀
I’ve heard some griping about historical inaccuracies, but I’m still willing to give it a view one of these days.
I didn’t notice any historical inaccuracies . . . because I knew next to nothing about Hitchcock’s personal life.
I loved the movie. I hadn’t known anything about Hitchcock’s wife–she really stayed in the background. I want to read their daughter’s book about her mother; it was supposedly one of Mirren’s chief sources for her portrayal.
Thanks, Kathy! It’s great when actors do their homework . . . Helen Mirren nailed it! I bet that’s an interesting book.
Yes, we did see this movie. I was drawn to it immediately with Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins, and always had a curiosity about “Hitch.” It was so well done! He was a very odd, neurotic genius of a man, wasn’t he? I think I knew enough about him not to be completely surprised at his behaviors and compulsions, but seeing them acted out was very powerful. I had not realized a thing about his wife. I am left with conflicting thoughts about her. She was so loyal, but how much of that was being a woman of that time versus really loving him enough to put up with his “stuff.” I’m so glad you recommended it…I think anyone would find this a good movie. I’d love to see it gain even greater popularity. And because of one of your reviews, we finally saw The Queen of Versailles! What a documentary! What a story!! 🙂
If you’re curious about Hitchcock’s wife, the book written by their daughter might shed some light ~ see comment #11.
I am glad you had a chance to see The Queen of Versailles. What an eye opener! 😯
Movies like that make me glad to be who I am.
Thanks for the book suggestion about Hitchcock’s wife. I will undoubtedly look into that. I didn’t even realize they had a daughter, so I guess I didn’t know that much about him after all. 🙂
Same here. I never pictured Hitchcock as a “father figure.” 😉
Any movie with Anthony Hopkins is likely to be good. I cracked up with your reply to ericjbaker . 😀
Movies can only do so much in the allotted time of 90-150 minutes. As a result of time constraints, directors cut corners and take liberties with story lines to maintain flow and pace. Even really important stuff gets left on the cutting room floor.
If we want the straight scoop, we must read “the book.” If we want to be entertained for a couple hours . . . movies are grand.
Must see it. With Antony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, I can just imagine.
The movie is a fun flashback . . . although, as Eric notes, it may not be historically accurate. But it may prompt interested parties to do a bit more delving into Hitchcock’s life, per comment #11
We added that to our queue this past weekend after watching Hopkins in 84 Charing Cross Road!
He did a stellar job in 84 Charing Cross Road too . . . but the ending made me sad. I wanted them to meet face to face.
Me too.
I have to admit that I’m not too familiar with Hitchcock’s work. This is because I get freaked out pretty easily and some of his stuff would send my imagination into over-drive! I could see Hopkins as Hitchcock….good casting choice.
I watched lots of Hitchcock in my younger years (pre-college) when I adored being SCARED. 😯
These days, I watch much tamer fare . . . but I enjoy the occasional psychological thriller (as long as the slashing and dashing is kept to a minimum).
I must watch out for it, even if a part is for the Birds. 🙂
Haha! There are brief references to The Birds . . . but the focus is on Psycho. 😯
That was the real shocker of that time. I always thought it a pity to have used such a looker so briefly!
There’s an exchange about that in the movie, Col. Hitchcock and Alma are discussing the proposed film, Psycho, over breakfast and Hitch says, “I wonder what people will think about me killing off my female lead in the first half of the film.
Alma considers for minute and then says, “I think it’s a huge mistake . . . you should kill her off in the first 30 minutes.” 😉
Sounds interesting..I hope to get to watch it too!! 😀
Fascinating film for movie buffs about the making of a classic.
I haven’t seen this yet, but I’ve been looking forward to it! It seems like Anthony Hopkins is a good choice to me (I fit him so well into mysterious and/or creepy-ish parts after ‘Silence of the Lambs’ etc… not to say that this is the same kind of part, but… that ‘hint’ of mystery, anyway).
🙂
In “Silence of the Lambs,” Hopkins seems refined, until he opens his mouth and shares his dark thoughts. In “Hitchcock,” he seems odd and a bit “off” throughout.
There’s a fine line between sanity and insanity, me thinks. 😯