Age certification: 12A
Directed by: Sacha Gervasi
Written by: John J. McLaughlin
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel
Genre: Biography, Drama, Horror
Rating: ***
How would you describe the director Alfred Hitchcock? Talented, suspenseful and entertaining perhaps? Now, how can Gervasi’s latest biopic Hitchcock be described? Talented, suspenseful and most definitely entertaining!
The year is 1959 and Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma, take on the project ‘Psycho’ in an attempt to ward off accusations and insinuations of it being time for the director to retire. But amidst the creation of one of the world’s greatest films, patience runs thin and tension escalates between the creative couple.
You don’t by any means have to be a film buff to acknowledge that Hitchcock was a pioneer of cinema, one of the greatest cinematic talents to have emerged. Nor do you have to be a film buff to acknowledge that this film simply does not do him any justice. However, the film does engage the audience and makes for a great experience. It’s witty and humorous, with moments of unexpected but appreciated romance between the two leads.
In many ways, the title is misleading, Hitchcock sadly does not deliver in terms of focusing on him, but instead, the film is devoted largely to his wife Alma. She’s in charge; from writing scripts, to casting, to simply being the wife ‘behind the scenes’. Although it is true that Alma was Hitchcock’s greatest collaborator, the genius behind the legend that is Hitchcock is brushed aside. Instead, we see very little of the man that we are supposedly watching a movie dedicated to. 
Regardless, the film is entertaining in its own way and although perhaps not one of the stronger films to have been released so far this year, Hitchcock is certainly a film in which the talent is clear. With Helen Mirren’s performance as the ‘talent in the shadows’ earning her a BAFTA nomination, it is clear that one of the film’s strongest points is the acting. The plot is by no means a work of art, but the Oscar winning pair make a fantastic on screen couple, enough to salvage it and give this film enough of a reason to be watched.
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