Hitchcock/The Girl - Film Compare/Contrast

A good deal of Art of Cinema touched on famous filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.  With the release of two biopics on the director being released recently back to back I decided to compare the direct to TV film, The Girl and the theatrically released Hitchcock.  The Girl, captures the relationship between Hitchcock and his lead actress in The Birds and Marnie, Tippi Hedren.  Hitchcock, also focuses on his obsessions with his lead actresses but also goes into the production troubles of his film Psycho.
It is in my personal opinion that British filmmakers go to great lengths to ensure their actors put on brilliant performances Julian Jarrold included, probably due to the fact that the theater is still a big form of entertainment throughout the U.K. the theater hones actors in their craft.  It is no surprise that Toby Jones does a phenomenal job as Hitchcock.  There is good writing and there is good performing, and to add a level of creepiness that Jones does is gripping.  At times generous and likable other times disturbing.
The Sacha Gervasi's film Hitchcock has Sir Anthony Hopkins playing the titular character and we see a more somber portrayal and not the creep portrayed in The Girl.  Hopkins heavy make up helps fade away the recognizable face and what is left is with is a chillingly recognizable Hitchcock.  Jones pulls off just a little bit more of an eccentric that makes Hitchcock even more believable and uses less makeup to look the part.
Coincidence or luck makes the movies virtually sequels to each other The Girl taking place after the events of Hitchcock. This can confuse audience members and believe the dastardly depiction in The Girl to be accurate as the overall arch of the two films shows a gradual decline.  Hopkins manages to portray a much more reserved Hitchcock then Jones and there is much debate on which portrayal is in actuality more accurate, most considering The Girl to be grossly exaggerated.
Although, the movies follow the workings of Hitchcock, the protagonist are the starlets Tippi Hedren and Grace Kelly two of Hitchcock's most famous actresses.  Through each story we see a character growth in each leading lady under the tight scrutiny of Hitchcock.  Although, Hitchcock and his wife have a certain conflict that is portrayed in both films, there is little growth to actually be of any consequence Hitchcock doing the better of the two to actually show some change.  For movies to be about the life of Alfred Hitchcock they were not really about him at all, The Girl being able to argue as to who the focus should have been on.
Gervasi and Jarrold do well with the material and with great actors to bring two excellent films to life.  Only for the sake of continuity would one care about which to watch first.  Otherwise, either serve as an interesting reflection on the master of suspense.