Hitchcock/Truffaut -2015
Director Kent Jones
Scott’s Review #933
Reviewed August 21, 2019
Grade: B+
A documentary about film and filmmaking is a worthy watch for any rabid lover of cinema, and when the subject at hand is Alfred Hitchcock, any fan must certainly chomp.
I remember Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015) playing at my local independent theater at release, but I missed my chance to see it.
With that misstep undone, the work is fine, and the result is an abundance of riches, serving as a fly on the wall for those who want to listen to two geniuses speak, or watch clips of great films and revel in the creativity.
Already having a hefty knowledge of Hitchcock doesn’t dull my perspective, nor do I take the appreciation for granted.
For an entry-level fan of the director or French film director Francois Truffaut, the title belongs on one’s “to see” list.
The documentary inspires and satisfies cinema lovers. Billed as side-by-side directors in the title, the documentary treats Hitchcock as the teacher and Truffaut as the student, especially given the age difference between the two men.
Truffaut interviewed Hitchcock in 1962 during a week-long discussion in a windowless Hollywood office, where the former soaked up the latter’s knowledge and perspective like a sponge.
Truffaut was already a well-regarded filmmaker at age thirty-two, with gems like The 400 Blows (1959) under his belt.
Truffaut later wrote a book about his conversations with Hitchcock, and director Kent Jones brings it to life as a documentary, explaining why the book had such a tremendous impact on cinema while teaching audiences a thing or two about the movies.
The production analyzes filmmaking from technique to style to clothing, actors, and in between.
The main crux is the technique Hitchcock used to create tension and suspense, manipulating the audience every step of the way.
A plethora of his films are featured, which is a personal joy to see; most importantly, the documentary is clever enough to build to Hitchcock’s most memorable sequence of all: the shower sequence in Psycho (1960), the director’s most recent film, and now, easily his most notorious.
Hollywood titans such as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Wes Anderson, and Richard Linklater, arguably geniuses, explain the influence Hitchcock had on them.
Listening to these formidable directors whimsically praise and dissect Hitchcock’s analysis, and explain how he helped them blossom, is a wonderful experience.
Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015) is a treat for die-hard fans of Hitchcock, Truffaut, or both.
Conversations and interviews with other famous directors show the heavy influence, love, and appreciation for an ingenious suspense director and an equally unique French New Wave director.
A thirty-two-year age difference separated the two men, but they appear as natural as close colleagues.
Great minds do think alike.