This is ostensibly a movie about the making of Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock's classic.
This is also about the marriage of Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma, her role in his work, Hitchcock's obsession with his leading ladies, and Alma's relationship with writer Whitfield Cook.
Sadly, watching the movie left me wondering how much was based on fact, and how much was taken from rumor or just imagined. A dramatic point in the movie is when Alfred and Alma decide to mortgage their home to self-finance the movie (never happened); the tumultuous relationship between the Hitchcocks is central to the movie, but apparently was not so in real life; Alfred is shown wielding the knife during the filming of the shower scene, as he imagines all those people who have stood in this way (never happened).
There's also a sub-plot about Hitchcock imagining himself talking with Ed Gein, the real-life killer on which Psycho is based. This part is a waste of time.
So I guess what we have here is a pleasant tale about how Hitchcock overcame all to make Psycho; and how he and Alma saved their relationship and he (finally?) gave her credit for her part in his success. Some of it might actually be true.
Anthony Hopkins does well in the role of Hitchcock, though even in the 'fat suit' his build is not quite right. Helen Mirren is excellent in the role of Alma, though she is much more attractive that the real woman! Scarlett Johansson is pitch perfect as Janet Leigh. Jessica Biel is equally good as Vera Miles. Danny Huston as Whitfield Cook is… well, Danny Huston.
Bottom line: It's a pleasant enough movie with real-life characters and a feel-good ending, which may or may not say anything useful about the making of Psycho. I'm giving it a 6 – the rating on IMDB is 6.9.
Trailer: youtu.be/xbjz5uBToTQ
may be slow, but... well, he's just slow.
