Synopsis:
Despite resistance, Mr. Alfred Hitchcock in all his orneriness and extravagance, is dedicated to making the novel Psycho into his next feature film, which (spoiler alert), he does. Not without the help of his loyal and understanding wife.

Who’s In It:
Anthony Hopkins is spot-on as the famed director, and supplies most if not all of the entertainment in the film, condescending and derisive. Both Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson supply the eye candy for both the audience and Mr. Hitchcock, while Helen Mirren assumes the role of the woman who props up the filmmaker.

Review:
It is no easy task to find a tone and style to recreate one part of the life of a director whose movies were oozing in tension, intrigue, and like Psycho, horror. And as it isn’t easy, director Sacha Gervasi doesn’t quite know where to go, as the film meanders from the quirky and fun, towards the dark and strange, as well as the romantic.

Filled with Hollywood clichés, Hitchcock cares more about the accuracy of the actors than whatever the story is. We know the end result, but the journey there isn’t that fascinating. Sure, Mr. Hitchcock fought stubbornly to get the film made, and of course his understanding and wise wife was there to help it get done, but these themes are just so familiar, and nothing new is added to any familiar stereotypes.

Utterly predictable and uninspired, Hitchcock has moments of note, but at no point knows what kind of movie it is. That hurts any movie, but when it’s about one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, it really starts to showcase its weaknesses. There could be a clever metaphor about how the film dies in a bloody mess on the shower floor, but Hitchcock doesn’t deserve it.

Best Line:
Alfred Hitchcock: “You may call me Hitch—hold the cock!”

Should You See It?
Not when you can go see Skyfall again.

[star v=2]