Cool Movies That You Didn't Go And See

Today, Gentle Readers, the movie in question is Sleuth, starring Michael Caine and Jude Law. This is not really a remake of the movie by the same name that starred Sir Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. This film is more of a re-imagining.

Based on the play by Anthony Shaffer (The Wicker Man, 1973) and written for the screen by Harold Pinter, Sleuth is the story of Andrew Wyke (Caine), a successful author of mystery/crime novels who is estranged from his wife. Enter Milo Tindle (Law), an actor, who just happens to be the man with whom Wyke's wife has been sleeping and setting up house. Tindle arrives at Wyke's country house to encourage Wyke to grant his wife a divorce so that she and Tindle can be together. Wyke is not quite so anxious to do so and what ensues is a game of cat and mouse.

This truly was a good movie. Very well acted by the two leads (and basically, the only two actors in the movie) and deftly directed by Kenneth Branagh. Branagh has an eye for amazing camera angles and visuals that make this film so interesting to watch. He also moves the action along and can turn a simple scene of two men talking into a verbal boxing match. It is not a long movie, only about 90 minutes, and it moves along very quickly. The dialogue is crisp and crackles and is played to the hilt by Caine, turning in a fine performance. The real compliments have to go to Jude Law though. I have never been a big Jude Law fan, but he gives the performance of his career thus far in the role of the sleazy Milo Tindle. I hope he does more character driven pieces like this.

If you like sharp dialogue and a movie that will make you think a bit while watching it, you must see Sleuth. It should still be playing in "art house" and specialty theatres. Why this movie didn't get a wide release, I'll never know.