Please allow me to start this out by stating that this film is a love story. It’s a love story to the craft of movie making, it’s a love story to movie thrillers, to the genre of suspense, but it is also the love story between Sir Alfred Hitchcock (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and his long suffering wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren).
When I was a little girl, I remember watching reruns of Alfred Hitchcock presents with my dad and if there was a classic Hitchcock movie on TV, the whole family was there. To this day, even with all of the technical advances and special effects in modern films, I’m still afraid if I see a bunch of birds flying over head. Hitchcock was a genius, no one can say different to me and this film truly is a tribute to him, not only as a filmmaker but as a man and husband.
The casting was excellent, although I must be honest, if you had asked me who I would cast as Alfred Hitchcock, I wouldn’t automatically have picked Anthony Hopkins. How could I have doubted such an incredible actor (well I probably would not have thought that the look was right), but boy, was I wrong! Sir Anthony plays Hitchcock uncannily. There was this way that Hitchcock would use his upper lip that was just so personally his and there it was! All I could think was “how’d he do that!” But let’s not stop there. Helen Mirren as Alma Reville was perfection. Although back then, the “woman behind a great man” was usually just a pretty face in the background, Alma was an accomplished editor, screenwriter and assistant director, but most importantly, an integral part of Mr. Hitchcock’s film making process and finally she is acknowledged. Scarlett Johansson was surprisingly good as Janet Leigh. Cine Marcos can’t stop gushing about how wonderful she looked and how she really fit the era so well. I must agree. Jessica Biel as Vera Miles was also lovely. So many talented actors worked on this film such as Danny Huston, Ralph Macchio, Toni Collette and more. READ FULL REVIEW