'HITCHCOCK'

'HITCHCOCK' (PG-13) (3 STARS)

Written by John J. McLaughlin based on the book "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho" by Stephen Rebello
Directed by Sacha Gervasi
Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, James D'Arcy

I love getting a special edition of a classic movie on DVD when it has a "Making of" feature. It is fascinating to me in seeing what went on behind the making of a classic. It is even better when it focuses on a genius artist like Alfred Hitchcock. The new movie "Hitchcock" delves into the making of Hitchcock's classic "Psycho" which would turn out to be his most popular movie. It is a fun movie just like watching one of those "Making Of" features on that DVD. It really doesn't show you a lot of Hitchcock's film making process but I had a big goofy grin on my face throughout.

"Hitchcock" tells us about the making of "Psycho" and I wanted to know more about how it was filmed and more of the reaction the movie got. Those might seem like big reservations but I still enjoyed the movie. The pleasure begins with the performances starting with Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock. He might not look totally like Hitchcock, we still see Hopkins behind the make up, but he sounds just like him. He has a ball with the role and you see the joy in his performance. It is a captivating and funny performance.

The movie really focuses more on the relationship between Hitch and his long suffering wife Alma. Alma helps her husband a lot with editing and directing advice. She is like his coach and support system. Helen Mirren is as expected awesome as Alma. She steals the movie and critics have complained they wanted more making of "Psycho" and less back and forth dialogue between the Hitchcocks. I agree and that is why I didn't love this movie but Mirren and Hopkins are great together. The movie is full of funny and snarky one liners by Mirren.

I also was very happy when I saw the actor who played Anthony Perkins give a perfectly etched performance. James D'Arcy nails Perkins look, inflection of voice and mannerisms. Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel are also fine as Janet Leigh and Vera Miles. The movie is lovingly shot and looks colorful matching the performances and tone of the movie. I especially loved scenes where Hitchcock battles with a film censor and also a scene where Hitchcock stands outside a theater door waiting for the audience's reaction to the shower scene.

"Hitchcock" doesn't match up to the greatness of the movie it is exploring. I wanted a more nuts and bolts look at how "Psycho" was actually shot and how Hitchcock got the performances from his actors. I could have done without the weak exploration of Hitchcock's fascination with blondes and if he made advances to them. The movie just leaves that section hanging and I also didn't like the concentration on Alma's flirtation with a screenwriter. That is a distraction from the real making of sections. I did love the movie's look at how Hitchcock, even with his past great films, had to convince Paramount to release his self financed film. "Hitchcock" is a lot of fun and I had a very good time.

P.S. For movies with amazing "Making Of" features I love "Blade Runner", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Jaws".