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Sleuth is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Michael
Caine (Batman Begins) and Jude Law (The Aviator.) Music
for the film is composed by Patrick Doyle. The film is a
remake of the story from the 70s that was both a play and
a film. ***
Sleuth follows the lives of two men - one of whom is
married, and the other has an affair with his wife. This
leads to the twosome staging a robbery, in an attempt to
get all of their problems straightened out, and to get things
back on the right track for both of them. Numerous acts
and capers ensue, with each man having a variety of twists
to bring into the plan. ***
Sleuth is a mess of a movie, with a fairly large share
of issues. And yet, I'm still recommending it. ***
This movie gets so bogged down in the plotline and
all the new twists that, like the original film, it's difficult
to keep up with them all. Additionally, Branagh's film is
a far cry from the original lighthearted one. It's a darker,
more edgy take on the story. More a rethinking than a remake,
the darker tone makes it less fun to watch then the original
film from the seventies. Darker isn't always better. ***
If all those issues, why am I still recommending the
film? The performances. Michael Caine and Jude Law breathe
plenty of life into what would otherwise be a dismal film.
Caine, one of the greatest actors out there, starred as
the young man in the original Sleuth. Here he gets promoted
to the old man role, and the always-terrific Law steals
the show as the younger man. The duo clearly has a lot of
fun playing these parts, and Branagh directs them well.
Caine and Law aren't just the best thing about this movie
- they ARE the movie. ---
Image And Sound:
Sony's anamorphic DVD transfer for Sleuth looks fantastic.
The image is clear, all of the colors come across excellently,
and there are no noticeable visual blemishes. The sound
fares equally well, be it a dialogue scene or an action-filled
one. If you've got surround sound, your speakers will get
a workout during the latter scenes. ---
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