Hitchcock finds the definitive director at a turning point in his career, troubled by a reporter’s suggestion that it may be time for him to retire; he sets out to make something inventive and different for his style – Psycho.
For a film about the master of suspense the great irony is there isn’t much, as anyone who has even a brief knowledge of Hitchcock’s back catalogue knows that Psycho was the director’s great success. Luckily for the film, it doesn’t matter. The rather superficial plot is carried by a funny script and a fantastic performance by Anthony Hopkins.
Hopkins embodies Hitchcock to every degree, playing the legend of cinema masterfully, even capturing the occasional East London nuances in his refined accent.
The script oozes witticisms but does become overbearing at times; it is possible to come away from Hitchcock with the impression that he only spoke in puns. In fact, it strains so hard for laughs at times that the more poignant moments are lost in the spill of puns Hitchcock consistently churns out.
Overall, Gervasi delivers a very entertaining film and one which is respectful of the director’s legacy, even if it doesn’t fully dig down into the darker side of his portly silhouette.
3.5 stars