Sleuth (2007)

A NO GO

I wasn't aware of the original. Almost "clever", but fails miserably at the end, huge let down!
August 18, 2008

Absolutely ridiculous

Absolutely ridiculous. Harold Pinter's rambling, incoherent screenplay plays like a first draft of a trashy B movie script. This is, of course, a remake of the 1972 original starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, with Caine playing the role Jude Law played in the remake. While the original had it's faults, such as being a bit too long and dragging in some spots, it stands as a truly underrated classic written by the superb Anthony Schaffer. The games playing between Olivier and Caine build momentum through the film and all three acts of the film tie in together perfectly. There's a reason behind each of their maddening steps to one-up each other. In the remake, there is fairly good acting but they are trying so hard to breathe life into a vapid screenplay that none of their work pays off. The film never really delves deep enough into the back story of these two men and their feud and contains a very strange gay angled twist at the end. Kenneth Branagh's direction is frustrating. With his overlong aerial shots, shots that cut off the heads of his two actors and lingering still shots that rely on the overly teched up house to thrill you, rather than any kind of real story telling. The film, if you appreciate real film making and storytelling in the slightest, is an extreme letdown. I'm sad to see Michael Caine's name anywhere near this project, and Branagh's for that matter. Perhaps the performances and direction would have been more impressive had Harold Pinter's screenplay carried any weight at all. It didn't and all are left with little to work with. If you're interested in seeing this film, skip it and rent the original. August 7, 2008

Absolutely brilliant...except for the last 15 minutes

I knew even before I watched "Sleuth" that I would absolutely love it. This is a remake of the 1972 film with the same name that stars Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Caine also appears in the remake, but he plays the Olivier role, and Jude Law takes over as Caine's old character from 35 years ago. The story revolves entirely around a twisted confrontation between eccentric novelist Andrew Wyke (Caine) and Milo Tindle (Law), an out-of-work actor who's having an affair with Tindle's wife. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, who is an absolute genius, this movie is an absolute joy to watch. Everything about it is highly original, even though it's a remake of a classic film...how often can a reviewer make a claim like that?! Caine and Law have an amazing on-screen connection, and both deliver outstanding performances. The screenplay was written by Harold Pinter, who is famous in the world of absurdist theatre. People who are unfamiliar with Pinter's style may be put off by this film, but "Sleuth" mirrors Pinter's stage work and is an absolute delight for theatre fans.

Unfortunately, the last 15 minutes of the film kind of spin out of control, and the story gets unnecessarily weird for a while. The odd ending is the only reason why I can't give "Sleuth" a five-star rating, but it was still extremely enjoyable to watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a very offbeat, unique film. June 21, 2008

What a shame

I usually like Branagh's work, I more than like Michael Caine (saw him first in 1965 with 'Ipcress File' and didn't miss much since). but I couldn't stand 10 minutes of this thing, since I got the feeling the director was more interested in contemplating his navel while getting the camera in the sky or crawling on the floor to no avail : close-ups on feet as ssen by a dog might have pleased fans of Godard (I was never one) 40 years ago, but now it's pitiful. Very few remakes were worthy being made, this one is the bottom of the barrel; what a waste.... June 13, 2008

brilliant

Brilliant acting from Michael Caine who is truly remarkable here. One of his best performances.
Jude Law is... well, Jude Law. Overacting at times, he nevertheless was well cast.
Suprisingly decent directing by Branagh who gets on my nerves - usually.
A truly remarkable production with a fantastic ending.

June 4, 2008

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