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Hitchcock (film)

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Hitchcock (film)
NameHitchcock
DirectorSacha Gervasi
ProducerIvan Reitman, Tom Pollock, Joe Medjuck, Alan Barnette
WriterJohn J. McLaughlin
StarringAnthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Wincott, Jessica Biel, James D'Arcy
MusicDanny Elfman
CinematographyJeff Cronenweth
EditingPamela Martin
StudioThe Montecito Picture Company, Cold Spring Pictures, The Film Department
DistributorFox Searchlight Pictures
Released2012, 11, 23
Runtime98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Gross$27.3 million

Hitchcock (film). The 2012 biographical drama film Hitchcock explores the personal and professional struggles of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock during the making of his seminal 1960 horror film, Psycho. Directed by Sacha Gervasi and based on Stephen Rebello's non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, the narrative focuses on Hitchcock's complex relationship with his wife and collaborator, Alma Reville, as he risks his reputation to finance and produce the controversial project. The film blends behind-the-scenes Hollywood drama with a portrait of a creative marriage under strain, set against the backdrop of the Paramount Pictures studio system.

Plot

In 1959, after the success of North by Northwest, Alfred Hitchcock seeks a new, daring project and becomes fascinated by the crimes of Ed Gein, which inspired Robert Bloch's novel Psycho. Despite resistance from his longtime studio, Paramount Pictures, and the Production Code Administration, Hitchcock decides to self-finance the film, mortgaging his home with the support of his wife, Alma Reville. As production on Psycho commences at Universal Studios, tensions rise between Hitchcock and his leading lady, Janet Leigh, while Alma grows closer to writer Whitfield Cook, creating a rift in their marriage. The film culminates in the stressful premiere of Psycho and a reconciliation between Hitchcock and Alma, affirming her indispensable role in his career.

Cast

Anthony Hopkins portrays the titular Alfred Hitchcock, undergoing extensive prosthetic makeup to capture the director's iconic silhouette. Helen Mirren delivers a critically acclaimed performance as his shrewd and talented wife, Alma Reville. Scarlett Johansson plays actress Janet Leigh, while Jessica Biel appears as her co-star, Vera Miles. James D'Arcy embodies Anthony Perkins, the actor cast as Norman Bates. Supporting roles include Danny Huston as writer Whitfield Cook, Toni Collette as Hitchcock's assistant Peggy Robertson, Michael Stuhlbarg as his agent Lew Wasserman, and Michael Wincott as the unsettling Ed Gein.

Production

Development began when producer Ivan Reitman optioned Stephen Rebello's book, with a screenplay adapted by John J. McLaughlin. Director Sacha Gervasi, known for the documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil, was hired for his first narrative feature. Principal photography took place in Los Angeles, with key sets recreating the offices of Paramount Pictures and the infamous Psycho bathroom on the Universal Studios backlot. Anthony Hopkins spent over four hours daily in makeup applied by Oscar-winning artist Howard Berger. The score was composed by frequent Tim Burton collaborator Danny Elfman, who incorporated elements of Bernard Herrmann's original Psycho music.

Release

Hitchcock had its world premiere at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles on November 1, 2012. Fox Searchlight Pictures launched a limited theatrical release in the United States on November 23, 2012, before expanding it in December to capitalize on Academy Awards season buzz. The film was also featured at the Hollywood Film Festival and the Savannah Film Festival. Internationally, it opened in markets including the United Kingdom, France, and Australia in early 2013, followed by home media releases on Blu-ray and DVD.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed, with praise directed at the performances of Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins but criticism for its superficial treatment of its subject. The film holds a 62% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 56 on Metacritic. At the Golden Globe Awards, Helen Mirren received a nomination for Best Actress. The makeup work by Howard Berger and Peter Montagna was recognized by the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards. Commercially, the film grossed a modest $27.3 million worldwide against an undisclosed budget.

Historical accuracy

While based on factual events, the film takes significant dramatic license. The portrayal of Alma Reville's potential romantic involvement with Whitfield Cook is speculative and heightened for narrative conflict. The character of Ed Gein appears as a haunting figment of Hitchcock's imagination, a fictional device not supported by historical record. Furthermore, the film compresses the timeline and oversimplifies the roles of key figures like Lew Wasserman and the Production Code officials. However, it accurately depicts Hitchcock's decision to self-finance Psycho, the use of his Shamley Productions television crew, and the pivotal creative contributions of Alma Reville to his films.

Category:2012 films Category:American biographical drama films Category:Films about Alfred Hitchcock Category:Films based on non-fiction books Category:Fox Searchlight Pictures films