We saw this tonight and it's quite good. The genre, a filmie's genre, is a movie about a movie. The venerable Alfred Hitchcock is feeling stale, sick of his TV series and wants to get back in the movies. Looking for a good script, he gets fascinated with a book called Psycho, itself about serial killer Ed Gein. After struggling with his studio and Hollywood censors who don't want to even think about such a movie, Hitch funds the movie himself at high risk, assembles a cast a makes his comeback film. Throughout the production Hitch is drinking heavily and communing in his alcoholic dreams with the real Ed Gein, who becomes the muse he needs to complete this movie, which was, after all, completely outrageous in its time.
The movie reminds me a lot of flix like Gods and Monsters, Shadow of the Vampire and my all time favorite of Movies about Movies, Ed Wood. Anthony Hopkins is at the top of his game under a huge belly and folds of neck fat, doing the droll, slow talking, British humor of Hitch. Helen Mirren is also excellent as his wife and under recognized film partner Alma. I don't know if it's true but the scene in which he finally nails the infamous shower scene is quite notable. Scarlett Johansson and Jessia Biel decorate the screen quite well as Janet Leigh and Vera Miles.
This low-tech movie evokes the mythic Hollywood back lot, a place that's past the guards at the big metal gate, out of the real world and into the movie world that buzzes with people pushing around carts full of scenery and costumes, extras walking around dressed like gladiators, aliens, cowboys and gangsters...20 different movies being filmed all at once in studios in one back lot, the myth of Hollywood in the old days.
The least likable part of the is that it does drag at some points, but if you're a fan of the Hollywood myth, Hitchcock or movies in general, this might be for you. Go to the movie and then watch Psycho. Tomorrow night, watch Ed Wood and Plan 9 from Outer Space or Gods and Monsters and Frankenstein.
