After 1959's North by Northwest, critics accused Alfred Hitchcock (Hopkins) of resting on his laurels, which inspired him to try something new. Fascinating by the novel Psycho, Hitchcock starts work on the film with his wife Alma (Mirren), assistant Peggy (Collette) and agent Lew (Stuhlbarg). But the studio boss (Portnow) and chief censor (Smith) are nervous about the material. Meanwhile, Alma gets tired of Hitch flirting with his leading ladies (Johansson and Biel), so she takes a job working with old friend Whitfield (Huston), indulging in some flirting of her own.

Director Gervasi and writer McLaughlin never really try to get under the surface, portraying the public Hitchcock we know from his TV series. They even frame the film like an extended episode, with opening and closing on-screen commentary and a third-act twist that generates some mild mystery and suspense. As a result, Hopkins seems to give a cartoonish performance, only rarely revealing the man beneath the fat-suit and facial prosthetics. It's not a hugely demanding role, but at least he can keep the monogramed towels.

As a result, Mirren steals the film. Alma Reville isn't an iconic figure, so Mirren is freer to create a feisty, witty character who gets the best lines and embodies the tensions in this long-term marriage. Of the supporting cast, Collette and Stuhlbarg get the most to do, and add sharp details wherever they can. As Psycho stars Janet Leigh, Vera Miles and Anthony Perkins, Johansson, Biel and D'Arcy are somewhat sidelined, which leaves the backstage drama tangential even though it's what we want to see.

Even if the film never takes advantage of the potential, it's still an entertaining depiction of how the film business operated in the late-50s, and still does today with barbed negotiations between filmmakers, studio chiefs and censors. Although now you'd have to stir in the destructive contribution of focus groups. Which may explain why this film is merely enjoyable without actually tapping into the edgy, prickly genius of an artist like Hitchcock.

themes, violence, innuendo

5.Dec.12