The Girl Shows What Hitchcock Could Really Do
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| The Girl (TV 2012) |
Details
Director: Julian Jarrold
Writer: Gwyneth Hughes
Cast: Sienna Miller, Toby Jones, Penelope Wilton
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 90 minutes
From movie, now to TV movie. Recently just aired on HBO, The Girl actually caught my attention to watch it on time. With my willing to know about what's the connection between Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock, these two characters on screen were my big expectation. Now here, The Girl actually offers the less flattering view and attitude of Hitchcock.
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| Miller as Hedren and Jones as Hitchcock |
Starring the two main characters, Ms. Hedren and Mr. Hitchcock, this TV movie centers its story on Hitchcock's relationship with actress Tippi Hedren, who starred in both Hitchcock's masterpiece, The Birds and Marnie. Marked as a horrible relationship as Hedren shouldn't refuse Hitchcock's sexual advances and also abuse on set. It tells that Hitchcock actually switched the mechanical birds to the real ones without warning, with working her beyond her limit of strength. And also a threat that was given to Hedren as he demanded sexual advances.
Such biography movie like this, usually to be a solid, tough movie. And this one, certainly not a bad example. Tippi Hedren, definitely, is the main attention, the center of all characters. In other hand, the allegations of sexual improprieties seem to be true for the character of Hitchcock as I had never heard such thing about Hitchcock like this. For sure, this movie isn't HBO's best effort and quality.
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| Miller's post attack look as Melanie Daniels |
Starting from the casts, Sienna Miller's portrayal as Tippi Hedren is pretty fascinating and sweet. Yet, still bounded in both confusing strong and weak character. It's not easy to get a girl just like Tippi. But here, Miller portrayed Hedren in good appearance but not as graceful as Hedren. During the screen test, Miller looks in a bit awkward moves, contrary to Hedren's queenly daring moves. But such thing not a true big deal, overall Sienna Miller is not a bad choice. The point of disappointing is on Toby Jones as Hitchcock, Jones looks awfully unflattering as Hitchcock here. Even with all best attempt in makeup and affectation, Toby Jones couldn't be the normal Hitchcock, too demanding to be like someone. And his dialogues blended with terrible speaking. The scene of the making of the birds attacking scene looks so random and confusing, too. The other characters, specially Alma Hitchcock seems not to be an active role for the actress.
Unfortunately, overall this movie isn't for public wholly, only for fans. Just little conflicts in it and seems to be a "quite" movie. Some scenes are expected to be perfect and touching, but didn't make them for real. Some fans probably will be shocked to see the cold, weak, ruthless, and never satisfied Hitchcock. But some probably will see deeper in his intensity to make brilliance. As a conclusion, The Girl creates a half intention to make tragic and better resemblance to Hitchcock's own films.
Rating: B