Trailer Tuesday: Hitchcock

*Sniff sniff* Do you smell that? It's that time of year that cinema output segues from fat-budgeted, CGI-heavy blockbusters to pedigreed fare, where the main drawcard is the cast and performances. Sure to be of interest in 2012 in this regard is Hitchcock.

Yup, we're heading into the end of year awards season, and Hitchcock looks to be this year's My Week With Marilyn. In other words, we get to watch today's actors impersonate some of the greatest icons of the silver screen from years gone by. As the title suggests, here we'll be focusing on legendary, macabre-obsessed director Alfred Hitchcock, as played by Anthony Hopkins. If that wasn't enough, Helen Mirren is at Hopkins' side as Hitchcock's filmmaker wife Alma Reville. And the Academy Award winning duo is supported by Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh, Jessica Biel as Vera Miles and James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins, while Toni Collette, Danny Huston, Kurtwood Smith and Ralph Macchio all also appear. How's that for Oscar bait?

Biopic Hitchcock is based on the non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. Stripping out everything else, the film maintains a pinpoint focus on the behind-the-scenes trials and tribulations associated with the making of Psycho. While Hitchcock's personal and professional relationships came under strain, the gamble on this twisty, graphic psychological thriller was to eventually pay off. Despite belief that he was past his prime as a filmmaker, Hitchcock's Psycho was a massive change in direction that shocked the world and went on to become arguably the director's most famous and most influential film.

Whoops, I hope I haven't spoiled it for anyone, but the "Making of Psycho" story is a pretty well-known slice of cinema history.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how much mainstream appeal Hitchcock has. Certainly there's the curiosity value in seeing stars playing stars, but perhaps only the cinephiles are interested? I know I'm very keen to see these famous people and events depicted onscreen.

Hitchcock releases in North America in 25 November. The film's South African release date is currently unknown, but I would expect it in the first 3 months of 2013.