Hitchcock (2013)

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959.

After finishing North by Northwest, Hitchcock was somewhat depressed. He needed a new project and nothing intrigued him. He came across "Psycho," (which was was a book based on the notorious serial killer, Ed Gein.) And pitches his idea to turn this into a horror movie to Paramount Studios. They pass and claim that like Vertigo, it is a risk and one they will not take because he still owes them money from that film.

Talking to his agent, he estimates that he can get Psycho done for about $800K and decides to self finance, fully aware of the fact that he'd be basically pouring all that he had into it and if it flopped, he'd be in ruins. He doubts himself, of course, but his wife is 100% supportive and he's overall committed to his vision. Everyone else just doubts him as he's never done a horror picture at this point and jumps with both feet in. His first move was to buy every copy of the original book so that no one would know the ending until the premiere of the movie and despite studio and MPAA pressure (He fought hard to get the shower/knife scene in the film) and illness, he gets the picture done.

Paramount, still believing the movie to be a flop, decided to run the film in only two theaters and refused to put any money towards marketing. Since he didn't get the premiere he desired, Hitchcock set about a plan to self market the movie and marketed the fuck out of it. There were  crowds of people lined up for blocks trying to see it opening night.

The reviews came in, the crowds loved it and the rest is history.

Stray Quotage:

"I look forward to this Mr.Hitchcock."
Call me hitch, hold the cock."

"He's a good lookin chap. But plywood would be more expressive."

"Your contract also says paramount doesn't have to release any films that could cause us embarrassment"


"Unlike the last 5 Mitchell and Lewis films you're so proud about."

Hitchcock is a behind the veil look at the creation, filming and distribution of psycho. It also provides a glimpse of the life of Alfred Hitchcock during that time, including his drive, passion and motivations for doing what he does.

There's all sorts of Hollywood in references and a bit history in this film and apparently Vertigo was a shit movie that happened the last time he "did something different" which was why the studios gave him so much shit for psycho. I enjoyed it though. Until the last act anyway.

I still do not believe that Scarlett Johansson can act. They cast her as an actor inside of the film. So we get double of her not acting and none of the breasts. But Helen Mirren as his wife, Alma Reville? She was a completely badass and devoted character and Helen acted circles around the cast. It really wasn't fair. Especially to Scarlett.

Violence? No
Explosions? Of angst
Nudity? No