Hopkins and Mirren are legends. Dave thinks nori tastes like an algae-filled fish tank. So does Joe, but only one of them like that particular taste.
Dave: I’m so conflicted about this film. The Ed Gein ghost subplot was underdeveloped at best and the “let’s just make up” ending between Alma and Hitch felt rushed and inauthentic. But when Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren are firing on all cylinders, they are unstoppable. Hopkins reins in his worst Hannibal Lecter impulses here while Mirren matches him, scene for scene, while realizing a flawed and forceful character. Still, I can’t quite forgive the director for the ham-handed scenes where Hopkins talks directly to Gein - they just seem like a shortcut to avoid real character development, not to mention that they erased the need for spending time with James D’Arcy’s lovely Anthony-Perkins-as-Norman-Bates character. Still, I’m glad I saw this movie, which I swear I’d never heard about, even though it came out in 2012. (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐1/2)
If we could create a surefire remedy to the curse of soggy popcorn, which we began to encounter 5 years ago, almost immediately after starting this venture, I think we could probably have published a cookbook and retired to the Bahamas. Alas, we haven’t, and this otherwise serviceable recipe required a lot of last-minute tweaking so we weren’t just eating a bowl of unappetizingly wet popcorn. The flavors were delicious, aside from the nori, which gave the popcorn the taste and texture of an aquarium that’s overdue for a cleaning. The spicy kimchi and delicious sesame oil, though, would have made for a delicious popcorn. If only it hadn’t been so soggy!! (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐)
Joe: First off, let's just say the cast for this film is terrific. Hopkins didn't just play Hitchcock, he was Hitchcock. His mannerisms, pitched vocalization, and stature are uncanny. Mirren gives an expectedly nuanced performance, especially in the moments of Alma's unraveling. When she chews out Hitchcock over alleged infidelities, the results are delicious. ScarJo is a solid Janet Leigh, especially the pitch perfect recreation of the infamous shower scene. Toni Colette, nearly unrecognizable in her make-up, also hands in a predictably excellent performance. Even bit characters, like the guy who plays Anthony Perkins, are solid. This is partially due to the hair and make-up. I'm not surprised it was nominated for an Oscar in this category. There are, unfortunately, some overwrought moments, especially in the visual symbolism. At one point, a close-up of a pressure gauge threatening to burst follows a tense showdown between Alma and Alfred. Quite eye-roll worthy. Also, if you didn't know about the Ed Gein/Psycho crossover - especially a majority of Gein's actual story, the weird subplot of him having conversations with Hitchcock makes zero sense. Over all, though, an enjoyable film, made better by the stellar acting. (⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️)
After countless failed attempts, there is just no way that adding wet ingredients to popcorn can yield a non-soggy end product. No amount of baking can prevent this inevitable outcome. The initial four cups of popcorn was literally reduced to soup once I added the kimchi and sesame oil. I wound up popping 6 more cups of popcorn and tossed it with the soup. The result: fine, but not great. Frankly, I'll happily eat bowls of kimchi and sheet after sheet of nori, so even with soggy popcorn, it wasn't horrible. Six tablespoons of sesame seeds is a bit excessive, though. (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Popcorn recipe from: Saveur
Hitchcock on IMDB.
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