After the controversial BBC-produced The Girl, one could be forgiven for cringing at initial reports that this film about the production of Alfred Hitchcock's legendary thriller Psycho has taken liberties with what is generally regarded as 'the truth'. However, there are many truths in this amusing comedy drama: there's Hitchcock's obsession with his former leading ladies, which was apparent in his snubbing of Vera Miles (played here by Jessica Biel), who 'chose' to become pregnant over taking the lead in Vertigo. There is, however, a great part for Scarlett Johansson as leading lady Janet Leigh, who seems completely unimpressed with Hitchcock's practical jokes, and actually had a good working relationship with Hitch. There are brief references to screenwriter Josephn Stefano and composer Bernard Herrmann, and of course the shooting of the famous shower scene is included. But it's the personal and professional relationship between Hitch and his mentor, collaborator and wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) that is the heart and soul of this picture. It is fair to say that after the initial failure of Vertigo - his most personal film - that Hitchcock lost much of his confidence and relied more and more on Alma's support and approval! This film examines how this may have affected their relationship on and off the set, but Hopkins and Mirren play it pretty straight, not veering into caricature. It's not nearly as irreverent as This Girl, and quite the better for it. It does give an insight into one of the most productive and celebrated working relationships in cinema history.
Review of Hitchcock
