Hitchcock Review - 3 Stars

Anthony Hopkins channels the great director Alfred Hitchcock in this delightful speculation about the making of “Psycho”.  Helen Mirren stars as the director’s wife Alma who  functioned as Hitchcock’s closest collaborator, editor, and sounding board.  I can’t vouch for the facts but the movie comes at us with great fun.  Hitchcock insists on “Psycho” while studio heads turn it down as too gruesome.  At age 60 in 1960, Hitchcock feels threatened by age—so he moves forward to give his critics a jolt—even though he and Alma have to mortgage their house to raise the money to finance the picture.  Scarlett Johansson impersonates Janet Leigh while James D’Arcy recreates Anthony Perkins.  The mix of nostalgia and the creative struggle and our knowledge that “Psycho” has grown into a timeless classic make this a delight, even if none of it really happened this way.   Scenes include Hitchcock communicating in dreams with the real serial killer who inspired the story.  Now that’s weird.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Hitchcock at work.  is it entertaining?  A delight.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Creepy fun.