Something about this film (I just saw the poster and read the synopsis) sounds completely unaccountable.
I mean: filming the story of the making of a film, a film that was already made*. Hollywood is making a meal of its own tail. (I've also heard it called "The Regurgi-tron").
But hey! They don't ask me when they greenlight this stuff. (And they certainly don't get my nickel.)
*But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this has already been done already, and successfully. (And I'm NOT talking about the making of a non-existent film, like in DAY FOR NIGHT.) Has it?
*But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this has already been done already, and successfully. (And I'm NOT talking about the making of a non-existent film, like in DAY FOR NIGHT.) Has it?
Aahh, yes. The Citizen Kane movie.
Was that any good? Or even the least bit suspenseful?
I couldn't get enough Hitchcock when he was alive, so this movie interests me, even if it's faux Hitchcock. I'm curious about Hopkins' portrayal. Many people don't realize how closely Alfred and his wife worked on his films. She was a tremendous influence on him. I'm also curious about THE GIRL, the HBO film about Hitchcock's relationship with Tippi Hedren. Toby Jones portrays Hitch in that one.
The book by Stephen Rebello about the Making of Psycho was excellent, and a fine, factual, thorough account of the film's production. Janet Leigh's book on her experience was also fascinating. What the film seems to be focused on is soapy behind-the-scenes melodrama, much of it questionable in factuality. I think the film looks terrible and awkward. My dad, who isn't the most discerning film viewer but a definite Hitchcock fan, said he had no desire to see a movie that takes a dump on Hitchcock's persona. He would rather continue respecting and admiring Hitchcock instead of being exposed to unpleasantness that he'd rather not know. Good for you, Pops!
Curious that the cast list on IMDB has someone credited as playing Ed Gein but no mention of Robert Bloch. I'm not sure how you can get from Gein to Hitchcock without going through Bloch.
I was interested in this until I saw the trailer, which instantly killed my enthusiasm. Much like David, I felt that it looks like it plays up a comedic angle of soap opera-ish behind-the-scenes shenanigans. Not to mention, Anthony Hopkins seems to just be doing a parody of Hitchcock rather than a performance. I'll pass.
I mean: filming the story of the making of a film, a film that was already made*.
*But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this has already been done already, and successfully. (And I'm NOT talking about the making of a non-existent film, like in DAY FOR NIGHT.) Has it?
It does seem an odd idea for a film. I would far rather see a documentary about the making of the film instead of a feature film with a lot of imagined conversations.
Apart from RKO 281, about CITIZEN KANE, which I didn't find dramatically interesting there was the recent MY WEEK WITH MARILYNN about the makng of THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL which was totally unconvincing.
My friends, I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree. I loved MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. I think it is an excellent picture.
And, I stopped prejudging films based upon the slight handful of clips in a trailer a long time ago, when it became clear to me that those brief clips were selected to SELL the film, not to describe it accurately.
I admire Anthony Hopkins, and I admire Helen Mirren even more. I am quite willing to risk the admission charge based upon their previous work.
I've been wrong before, and I will most certainly be wrong again. Sometime. But, in this case, I'm going to enjoy my hot popcorn, and I'll be right back here to deliver my never-to-be-humble opinion of this film.
I think the production of a film can sometimes be just as exciting as the actual film itself. Need I mention APOCALYPSE NOW? We have a making of-documentary of that, but I'd love to see a fictional version as well at some point.
There's also the Indian HARISCHANDRACHI FACTORY (2009) about the making of the first Indian film, RAJ HARISCHANDRA (1913). It's pretty good.
So bring on HITCHCOCK. Some of my favourite talent is involved here, like Hopkins and Elfman.
My friends, I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree. I loved MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. I think it is an excellent picture.
I think it would have been a fine film if they had stuck to adapting Colin Clark's original diary which I first read many years ago, which is a fascinating and entertaining look at the making of the film. Trouble is the film concentrates on Clark's second book, written many years later and which few people believe, detailing his fantasised relationship with Marliyn Monroe. Kenneth Branagh was good as Laurence Olivier though.
Curious that the cast list on IMDB has someone credited as playing Ed Gein but no mention of Robert Bloch. I'm not sure how you can get from Gein to Hitchcock without going through Bloch.
You know what they say about Hollywood's treatment of writers (according to Variety's review, Joseph Stefano is hardly in this).
I'm interested in seeing Hopkins's portrayal of Hitch. So far it does look more like a sly, winking parody performance from the trailers and it probably fits the overall feel of the film.
I very much liked Toby Jones's portrayal of Hitch in THE GIRL. Like his Truman Capote (I preferred his performance over Hoffmann's), he imbues these larger than life personas with a twinge of real sadness that reveals a humanity that otherwise might get lost beneath their famous facades. I've been really impressed with Jones's acting these past few years. He must be making his dad proud for following him in his footsteps.
I'm with you on Toby Jones, Mark. His Capote was even better than Hoffman's Oscar-winning version. I also happen to think that Sandra Bullock's turn as Nell Harper Lee is her finest work so far.
I don't have HBO, so I'll have to wait awhile to see THE GIRL.
Well, what about Ed Wood, or Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story?
I'm sure there are scads more I'm forgetting...
They are biopics, which are about the life of an individual. There are very many of those but they are not in the same catagory as a film detailing the making of a particular film.
