Sleuth

Starring: Michael Caine, Jude Law
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2007
Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In order to secure a divorce for his lover, a man (Jude Law) pays a visit to her estranged husband (Michael Caine) to convince him to agree to the split. However, he finds that the older man is reluctant to help either of them out, and he engages in a battle of wits as each man tries to gain superiority over the other.

Review:

Tim: I have to say that I love that Michael Caine appears in this remake of his own 1972 film, this time playing the role opposite of the one he played in the original. This is really a two-man movie, and Caine has now played both parts. In the original, he battled wits with the older Laurence Olivier, and this time around, he is matched up against the younger Jude Law. I find this fascinating and was my favorite aspect of the movie. Sadly, the film itself isn't great. It is certainly interesting and occasionally shocking, yet it is also a bit smallish and falls apart in the third act. Still, this is a decent movie that feels like it is better than it actually is.

I really loved the performances of both Michael Caine and Jude Law. These two men are pitted against each other, and you believe every moment. I love seeing two intelligent men, each trying to get the upper hand over the other. Their performances make the movie what it is, because you can see both the absolute hatred and begrudging respect both men have for each other. This makes for extremely entertaining watching. The problem is that the film feels too small and crudely shot, as if the budget wasn't big enough (you can tell it is an adaptation of a play), leaving something to be desired by the audience. It is a small movie that almost can't contain the actors and the drama we seen unfolding on screen. Kenneth Branagh does a good job of making this wholly about the two actors, but I think his direction could have been a bit better.

Sadly, while I was interested in these characters and their battles with each other, I could never really get invested in the outcome. I liked both men and I disliked both men, so I didn't really have anyone to root for. In addition, I suspected how the film would end early on, so much of the movie was just a waiting game to get to that eventual point. However, I will say that there was a shocking twist halfway through I never saw coming. I loved this moment, when I uttered "Oh my God!" and suddenly, the movie took on new life and new meaning for me. To be truthful, there are several nice twists that keep the movie interesting and alive. Unfortunately, I never really felt too enthralled with how it would end.

Sleuth is an interesting remake, one that probably manages to escape the "why do they keep remaking old movies?" criticism we hear all too often. I liked both Caine and Law, and I was impressed with their performances, particularly how they played off each other. The story itself was interesting, but not altogether exciting, and the direction was a bit weak from Branagh. I enjoyed this movie, but not nearly as much as I should have.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sleuth (1972), Alfie, Perfect Stranger, The Wisdom of Crocodiles, Flawless