You'd be hard pressed to call "Sleuth" a film in the strictest sense, despite the valiant attempt by director Kenneth Branagh to give the film a dynamic visual look. Based on a theatre play, and a former film version, this quick-witted tale of two men trying to outplay each other features some very rich and entertaining performances from both Michael Caine and Jude Law as the only cast members. The narrative is both engaging and amusing, keeping you guessing until the end. Only a softer third act and the fact that the story is set entirely in one location leaves "Sleuth" falling short of the mark; after watching this film, you can see how good a theatre production it would have made.
Michael Caine plays Andrew Wyke, a rich crime novelist who invites the younger Milo Tindle (Jude Law) to his home for a chat. It turns out they are both sharing Wyke's wife. Tindle tries to force Wyke in to giving his wife a divorce so she can be together with Tindle. Wyke agrees, but only after Tindle executes an elaborate plan to stage a robbery, the effect of which will ensure Wyke will be rid of his wife and Tindle gets what he wants. It all sounds smooth sailing until the game starts escalating wildly out of control, and these two smart, ruthless men start playing each other's strengths and weaknesses until one of them ends up dead.
The absolute strength of this film lies in its writing and performances. The dialogue in the first half of the film is nothing short of brilliant; aside from being witty and intelligent, it's highly amusing. Both Michael Caine and Jude Law elevate the material far beyond its already great origins in to something very charming and sinister all at the same time. For example, the moment when Michael Caine becomes nasty will make your hairs stand up on end as you realise how he's played Tindle the whole time. However, Tindle gets his own back by staging an elaborate prank on Wyke which more than makes up for what Wyke did to him. Tindle's prank of impersonating a police inspector who is suspicious of Wyke's transgressions is highly effective and dramatic. The film continues in this pattern, each man trying to one up the other until a rather dire conclusion.
The first two acts of the film are the strongest. In the first act, Wyke gets one up on Tindle. In the second act, Tindle gets one back on Wyke. Watching how both men achieve this is worth watching all on its own. It's well written, well acted and well directed with great use of the sole location present in the film. Unfortunately, the steam goes out in the third act; it doesn't quite match the heights of what has come before. The suggestion of a homo-erotic relationship between the men which culminates in Wyke shooting Tindle feels somewhat out of place and lacks the quick-witted edge that the previous acts in the film had.
Despite the fact that "Sleuth" cannot get past its one location origins in the theatre, director Kenneth Branagh has done a fantastic job of creating some remarkably creative and eerie visuals. The combination of production design, photography and lighting gives the Wyke Manor a disturbing feeling which more than complements the ruthless behaviour of both characters. The opening shots in particular are quite inventive; one shot of a set of drinking glasses which perfectly blocks the front door to the manor as Jude Law walks in is very impressive and unique.
"Sleuth" is a good way to spend an hour and a half, but I felt the dramatic effect would have been more pronounced watching this as a stage play rather than a film.
For the original DVD review, click this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/dvdreviewsleuth.htm
About The Author: Alex DeMattia is the lead DVD reviewer at the film/DVD review web site All About Movies.net - He is also an administrator of the web site http://www.approachingsexywomen.com
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Posted: Friday 12th September 2008, 8:19 AM
