Hitchcock

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: November 23, 2012

6.7	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 136 Ratings

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MarcDoyleNov 23, 2012

It's a decent film, but there's just not a whole lot to it. If you're a fan of Psycho, specifically, it gives you a nice window into the financial making of the film. But the movie feels like it just scratches the surface of the trulyIt's a decent film, but there's just not a whole lot to it. If you're a fan of Psycho, specifically, it gives you a nice window into the financial making of the film. But the movie feels like it just scratches the surface of the truly interesting aspects of the filmmaker's life and career. Mirren is solid, as usual, but it feels like the range of her talents are a bit wasted. Hopkins (with his make-up artist) truly transforms himself (the actor) into larger than life director. It seems to me like the script could have been a touch more ambitious.… Expand

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TokyochuchuMay 4, 2014

Hitchcock is a fine Sunday afternoon drama. The cast does an admirable job and the film skips along breezily. But don't look for depth here though. Hitchcock is a bit short on that.

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lasttimeisawMay 3, 2013

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beingryanjudeSep 1, 2014

An interesting take on the creation of an American classic. Although, the film lacks a certain niche which made Hitchcock films so powerful. Nevertheless, Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins' performances are able to elevate the film to a higher level.

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Tara61Jan 20, 2013

Above all this is a polite movie. After the closing lines I had a feeling that everything was left on the surface, like that the director was afraid or too well mannered to dig beneath, I'm referring, among other things, to the fight betweenAbove all this is a polite movie. After the closing lines I had a feeling that everything was left on the surface, like that the director was afraid or too well mannered to dig beneath, I'm referring, among other things, to the fight between **** and Alma which lacks emotions. And I was not convinced at all about H. fascination with his leading ladies. This is mentioned throughout the movie, but I was not convinced (that is the movie did not convince me, the real life and true H. is something else). The cast is superb, as one can only expect from Mirren and Hopkins.… Expand

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GreatMartinDec 10, 2012

As fine an actor as Anthony Hopkins is he gets wiped off the screen, as everyone else does, when Helen Mirren appears in the new film **** There is a 2 minute scene near the latter part of the film when Mirren, (as Alma Reville, **** wife)As fine an actor as Anthony Hopkins is he gets wiped off the screen, as everyone else does, when Helen Mirren appears in the new film **** There is a 2 minute scene near the latter part of the film when Mirren, (as Alma Reville, **** wife) that is mesmerizing and screams Oscar. Right now the two best actresses in the cinema world are Judi Dench and Helen Mirren and they are both on movie screens for the holiday with Dench in … Expand

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lahaine2012Jan 6, 2013

I just saw this film and it was quite a lightweight. Anthony Hopkins, donning a lot of makeup that makes him look nothing like Alfred Hitch, reads his way through a weak script that attempts to chronicle the master filmmaker's struggle inI just saw this film and it was quite a lightweight. Anthony Hopkins, donning a lot of makeup that makes him look nothing like Alfred Hitch, reads his way through a weak script that attempts to chronicle the master filmmaker's struggle in making his classic film, Psycho. This movie isn't short on simplicity, but its definitely short on depth. It narrows this mystic, yet legendary filmmaker, down to a caricature and presents all his genuine human and creative struggles in a farcical manner. I was not a fan of that approach and the movie's tonal inconsistencies were also a bothersome thing of note, that's sure to give audiences a puzzling viewing experience. I wouldn't consider this film offensive to Hitch by any means, I just felt it lacked some incite. We didn't truly learn much about the man, by the film's end. While James D'Arcy and Scarlett Johansson excel in their respective roles, those were only small things to appreciate in this relatively poor film.… Expand

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mmweissJan 26, 2013

**** is a decent film. Sometimes good, but sometimes not really interesting. When the film focuses on the casting for psycho or the problems in the set, Sasha Gervasi's film is entertaining, but halfway through the film, it goes in another**** is a decent film. Sometimes good, but sometimes not really interesting. When the film focuses on the casting for psycho or the problems in the set, Sasha Gervasi's film is entertaining, but halfway through the film, it goes in another direction, the movie starts to follow ****'s wife, Alma, and goes to a silly place. Also, there are so many good misused actors, like Jessica Biel (what was the point of her character?) and James Darcy. At the end, **** is worth seeing for Anthony Hopkins's performance. Wait for the dvd.… Expand

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PaganostaghettiNov 30, 2012

The legacy of Alfred **** lives on in his wide assortment of suspense films, some of which took their time to become classics, and others that became instant hits upon release. Psycho was one of his films that received mixed reviewsThe legacy of Alfred **** lives on in his wide assortment of suspense films, some of which took their time to become classics, and others that became instant hits upon release. Psycho was one of his films that received mixed reviews critically, yet was adored by audiences, becoming a box office success for **** and ultimately maintaining itself as the highest grossing film of his career. The production on the film has been noteworthy for several reasons, such as the lack of studio support from Paramount, a change of style for ****, and battles with the Motion Picture Production Code. In ****, all of this is addressed and then this biopic of the master of suspense becomes a film trying to walk the line between fact and fiction. The world is introduced to a peeping tom, always watching everything, obsessed with blondes, worried about how his film is received, and married to Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) who acts more as a mother figure than anything else. Acting aside, the movie has but a few mere moments of entertainment before it slouches back into its attempt to craft a fictional life behind one of the greatest directors of all time, in an extremely boring fashion. Check out the rest of the review at http://independentcinema.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/****-was-apparently-a-perverted-worrisome-mamas-boy/… Expand

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ArchleachMar 19, 2013

Awesome performances by the cast overall. This is a decent movie just a tad shallow. Nothing new came from watching it, we all know Hitch was crazy, we all know he was weird with his leading ladies... so what? I didn't come away from theAwesome performances by the cast overall. This is a decent movie just a tad shallow. Nothing new came from watching it, we all know Hitch was crazy, we all know he was weird with his leading ladies... so what? I didn't come away from the picture with any better understanding for Hitch the man. Honestly your time is probably better spent watching some great films.… Expand

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MovieGuysSep 17, 2013

As lightweight and featherlike a it is, is still a good film. Anthony Hopkins does portray the master of suspense pretty well, and Helen Mirren is likable in her role. The film is smooth for the most part, but drags a little bit. It could'veAs lightweight and featherlike a it is, is still a good film. Anthony Hopkins does portray the master of suspense pretty well, and Helen Mirren is likable in her role. The film is smooth for the most part, but drags a little bit. It could've been better, yes, but it still was acceptable nonetheless.… Expand

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kyle20ellisMar 23, 2022

'Hitchcock' had real potential to be great, being a biopic on one of the greatest and most influential directors ever and with such a great cast. It could have been much better and is an uneven film, but is a better Hitchcock biopic than 'The'Hitchcock' had real potential to be great, being a biopic on one of the greatest and most influential directors ever and with such a great cast. It could have been much better and is an uneven film, but is a better Hitchcock biopic than 'The Girl' from the same period.

It looks great for starters. The cinematography is sumptuous and colourful, and the costume, set and production design and scenery are both eye-catching and evocative. Danny Elfman's score has a lot of atmosphere but also a liveliness and whimsy, even including a chilling and very well used nod to the iconic score from 'Psycho'.

A very heavily up Anthony Hopkins makes a valiant effort as Hitch, and it is a spirited, gleefully relished and well-studied characterisation that is much more subtly written than how Hitch was written in 'The Girl' (though in that Toby Jones did do very well indeed with what he was given). Helen Mirren cuts an enigmatic and firm yet sympathetic presence as wife Alma. In support, coming off particularly well are Scarlett Johanssen's spot-on Janet Leigh and Toni Collette who is always good even in material beneath her. While under-used, the Anthony Perkins of James D'Arcy is also ideal casting.

Coming off less well are Danny Huston's pretty irritating Whitfield Cook, Ralph Macchio's too old and jarringly too modern-looking Joseph Stefano (kept seeing the Karate Kid rather than Stefano, which really took me out of the film) and Jessica Biel who also feels miscast as Vera Miles, a case of recognisable name and star quality over whether they fit the character or period or both (neither of which Biel does).

'Hitchcock's' storytelling is also uneven and unfocused, likewise with the direction which badly struggles with the balancing of plot strand and tone shifts. 'Hitchcock' fares well in the making of 'Pyscho' and Hitch's belligerent reaction to 'North By Northwest's' success, which is fascinating and there should have been much more of it, and in the strong and quite touching chemistry between Hopkins and Mirren.

It however underwhelms badly in the very unconvincingly written and unlikely love triangle, which sees Alma falling for Whitfield Cook, a big problem when that has more screen time than the story elements 'Hitchcock' does well in. And also in the tonally odd, padded out (they were clearly there for padding too) and out of place scenes with Ed Gein which was an attempt to bring a fantasy element to the film, and a ghoulish one, but it was woefully misjudged (a shame because Michael Wincott is eerily good as Gein, so much so that if a film is made about Gein in the future Wincott should be up for serious consideration to play him).

Some of the dialogue is clunky and not just underuses characters that would have made the film even more interesting (Perkins definitely should have been in the film longer) but the way Alma is written can be considered a character assassination, practically hero-worshipping her and while not vilifying Hitch necessarily there is the very strong and blatant implication that he was lazy, not as clever as he clearly was to make so many great films and that he would not have had the success he had without Alma. The way the characters are written are sketchy and one-dimensional, and despite so much promise one does question the film's point.

All in all, intriguing enough but very uneven. 5/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

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JeBjBoJun 8, 2023

I was in need of some light entertainment and that's exactly what I got. - great performances, especially Helen Mirren
- lots of visual clues taken from Hitchcock's pictures
- I liked that this film focuses more on the relationship betweenI was in need of some light entertainment and that's exactly what I got. - great performances, especially Helen Mirren
- lots of visual clues taken from Hitchcock's pictures
- I liked that this film focuses more on the relationship between Hitchcock and Alma Reville, and tries to dive deeper into Hitch's psyche
- I didn't like how rushed and shallow the result was

All in all: entertaining but rushed and a too shallow, I am curious to read the book though… Expand

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