The Queen x Hannibal Lectre: Hitchcock

I believe Hitchcock has been missold.

The film's advertising makes it look like a film about the making of Psycho with a little bit of Helen Mirren grousing in the background. Where, in reality, it's a domestic comedy with some shots from Psycho in the background. And Helen Mirren doesn't grouse- she snarks.

I should say that Helen Mirren is fantastic. As is Hopkins, but he has the much easier role, playing a character that lots of people are eminently familiar with anyway (although, I was surprised how few of my friends have actually seen a Hitchcock film). She's energetic and amiable and witty and, dare I say, kinda hot? The scene where she's picking out a swimming costume is kinda...titillating.

Moving on.
The drama is almost entirely about the relationship between Hitchcock and his wife, Alma; I think this may be because the making of Psycho was relatively smooth. I know there were problems with censorship, and financing (nothing more fun to watch than people argue money!), but from what I understand these are trivial compared to what some film shoots go through.

So, the making of Psycho serves as a backdrop to an exploration of marriage; and, even then, it's not particularly crucial to that exploration. The problems between Hitchcock and Alma don't stem from him being 'obsessed with murder' as the trailer insinuates, but merely from them both aging. And these problems are intriguing, but almost entirely because of the performances, not the content. Although, I should say, that the film is well-scripted; Mirren and Hopkins are both amusing, but I doubt they improvised the entirety of their lines.

What I think is interesting about the Psycho element of the picture is that it could have been the backdrop to two different films on topics that interest me: one about censorship, and how someone has to stand up to the man for things to change, and homophobia in Hollywood (Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates, was closeted, and the film has definite transphobic elements). Both of these ideas are touched upon, but briefly, and they clearly don't concern the director.

So, what you get is a well-played drama/comedy about marriage in old age with some take-it or leave-it references to classic cinema. It's a lot of fun, but it's too middle-of-the-road to be memorable; somewhat ironic, given the film's sections about pushing the envelope in what could be seen on screen and what made Psycho so influential in pop culture.

P.S. The film kept on saying that Hitchcock never won an oscar, but didn't Rebecca win best picture? I know it's not an award to him personally, but it's still a lot more than most people will ever be recognised.