Time to Get Hitched

Once again, the great Anthony Hopkins transformed himself into an iconic image. Over the years, he constantly amazed me, playing everything from a cannibal (Hannibal -- 2001, The Silence of the Lambs -- 1991), quiet, grief-stricken author (Shadowlands -- 1993), and even an older swashbuckling heroic figure (The Mask of Zorro -- 1998). And, now, as Alfred Hitchcock, he so completely morphs that I forgot who it was playing Hitch.

And, this is just one of the great things about Hitchcock (2012). Directed by Sacha Gervasi, this is only his third time directing, and he really manages to capture the feel of the era. The whole film takes place during an apparently dry period for Hitch (as his wife Alma called him), and he was looking for new material when the book "Psycho" came out. Everything takes place shortly before the filming of Psycho and just immediately after its release, and focuses on his relationship with Alma, the embedded psychological nuances of Psycho, and his “obsessions” with his female leads. He had some quirks and kinks, according to this film, and perhaps was a peeping Tom, but he and Alma loved each other. Yes, he was most certainly difficult to live with, but at least in this take, he was not cruel. He did have issues, true enough.

Hitchcock gave me a good, almost voyeuristic look into the mind of Alfred Hitchcock, and into how a great director worked, finding and coaxing those little somethings within each of his actors and actresses from their innermost niches onto the screen. And, it was amazing how much all these actors playing actors acquired the originals’ characteristics, especially James D’Arcy as Anthony Perkins and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh.

Something else I had not considered about Psycho is how the filming of it drove the censors bonkers. This was perhaps the first time a big-time director ever took on a slasher project, although it's still mild by today's standards. But, it wasn't just the shower scene that posed a problem. Nope. Seems there never was a toilet-flushing scene prior to Psycho, and the powers-that-be didn't want the viewing audience thinking that people might go to the bathroom on screen. Talk about horrifying.

One thing for certain this film made me do is want to read a good biography on Mr. Hitchcock.

'til next time... Adios.