Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • December 19, 2012 ‘Hitchcock’ traces the making of ‘Psycho’ by Dennis Seuling “Hitchcock” is more a look at one chapter in the life of director Alfred Hitchcock than a comprehensive screen biopic. At age 60, the director was still at the top of his form, and was about to embark on the production of a motion picture that would become his most profitable and endure as one of his greatest cinematic achievements. Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) had just made one of the most popular and critically praised movies of his career -“North by Northwest” -- and was searching for his next project. By this point in his career, he was able to choose his own projects, which were financed by major studios. Horror films had proven extremely profitable at the box office. They could be made cheaply and had a guaranteed, enthusiastic audience. Hitchcock wondered what would happen if a really good director were to make a horror film. He found a novel by Robert Bloch called “Psycho” and saw in it infinite cinematic possibilities. With wife Alma (Helen Mirren), his constant companion and supporter, Hitchcock goes about planning “Psycho” as his next picture. However, the studio regards the project as tawdry and unworthy of financing. So he and Alma finance it themselves. The actors Janet Leigh (Scarlet Johansson), Anthony Perkins (James D’Arcy), and Vera Miles (Jessica Biel) are hired and production gets under way. “Hitchcock” jumps back and forth between the Hitchcocks’ home life and Hitch’s work on the set. Alma, well established in the British film industry and Hitchcock’s boss when he started out, remains a primary source of professional feedback for him. He values her opinions and often acts on them. An innocent relationship between Alma and writer Whitfield Cook (Danny Huston) creates jealousy on the part of the director. This subplot underscores Alma’s desire to exercise her own creative talent rather than remain in the considerable shadow of a world-famous celebrity. The scenes between Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock ring true. They have been married for many years and derive mutual respect from an art form they love. She centers her life around him and understands that she and movies will always be competitors for his attention. Alma knows the real man -- her husband -- from the self-promoting, public Master of Suspense. Despite considerable padding, facial prosthetics, and adopted mannerisms, Hopkins falls short in his channeling of Hitchcock. He never quite nails the accent audiences have come to know from the real Hitchcock’s long-running TV show. However, after a few minutes, the viewer goes with the flow. Alma, a far less public Anthony Hopkins (left) portrays Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock as he plans his 44th feature film in ‘Hitchcock.’ figure, comes off more effectively through Mirren’s portrayal. Her Alma is intelligent, outspoken, and even intimidating, standing up to studio bosses when they threaten to take over the production of “Psycho.” The supporting cast is strong, with many well-known actors in small roles. Toni Collette plays assistant and gal Friday Peggy Robertson; Ralph Macchio is screenwriter Joseph Stefano; Michael Stuhlbarg is Lew Wasserman, Hitchcock’s agent and friend; and Richard Portnow is Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures. “Hitchcock” is at its best providing viewers with the many interesting behind- the-scenes stories about the making of “Psycho,” such as Hitchcock’s endless conflicts with the censors over the film’s violent shower scene, the special campaign designed to keep the ending of the movie a surprise, the dispute over whether music should accompany the shower murder, and Hitchcock’s involvement in every aspect of production, however small. “Hitchcock” takes viewers into the private life of a famous director, illustrating that the glamour of moviemaking does not come without tireless preparation, a clear vision, and the determination to stick with that vision (continued on Crossword page)