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List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 36642
Released: March 11, 2008 |
| Our Price: $1.07 |
| Used Price: $1.08 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
No Description Available.
Genre: Mystery
Rating: R
Release Date: 11-MAR-2008
Media Type: DVD
Description of Sleuth:
Thirty-five years after Michael Caine played the role of crass boy-toy Milo Tindle in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s screen adaptation of Anthony Shaffer’s hit play Sleuth, the actor takes over his 1972 co-star Laurence Olivier’s role of rich cuckold Andrew Wyke in Kenneth Branagh’s updated remake of the same story. Where Olivier brought a seething, upper-class disgust to mystery-novelist Wyke’s attitude toward Tindle--who is having an affair with the former’s wife and has come to the writer’s mansion to request that Wyke divorce her--Caine basks in the comic absurdity of a superficial man like Tindle (Jude Law) led by the nose into one or another illusion of happiness. The new film’s script by Harold Pinter has the arid air of expectation familiar to his work, the weight of things not said whenever someone speaks. That’s a considerable weight indeed, in Sleuth’s story of a psychological contest between two very different men who despise one another beneath outward civility.
The story finds Tindle arriving at Wyke’s home. Following various small humiliations, he is invited by the older man to steal his wife’s jewels in a scheme that benefits everyone. There’s more than meets the eye to Wyke’s proposal, however, leading to unexpected developments and surprises in the film’s second half. Branagh’s direction is suitably cool and sleek in the beginning, when the characters’ emotions are still in check and the oddness of Wyke’s gadget-filled world is still entertaining to behold. (The film’s set design is one of its strongest elements.) But once voices rise and threats appear and the like, Branagh can’t seem to penetrate the surface of things. Unlike Mankiewicz’s take, the new version is caught up in the insularity of the characters’ tit-for-tat gamesmanship, lacking the intriguing, class-warfare subtext of the earlier work. A gay angle thrown into the last half-hour sits uncomfortably and irrelevantly with the rest of the material. The best thing about this Sleuth are the performances of Law and Caine, who could have been even better with a great script. --Tom Keogh
Stills from Sleuth (click for larger image)
Beyond Sleuth
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Sleuth Reviews:
How to build a better 'Mousetrap'! (details) 
2009-11-28 - THE STORY: A wealthy and articulate author of thriller books (Michael Caine) becomes a cuckold when his wife falls for a compelling young actor (Jude Law.) The young man travels from London (where he was shacked-up with the lady) to the very high-tech home of his nemesis, to gain his consent for a divorce, and an incredibly dangerous game of wits ensues.
Of course there's an earlier version of this film, also with Michael Caine (as the cuckoldER!): Sleuth. But I was more reminded of yet another terrific (1982) Michael Caine movie as I watched the 2008 version: Deathtrap, which was based upon an Ira Levin play. One encounters a parallel set of interactions between Caine and a youthful Christopher Reeve as we see between the old Master and Jude Law in the film under review.
What can I say about this movie to justify the five stars which I have awarded to it? The acting is stellar, the story is terrific, the cinematography is first-class, and all this gels into a marvelous film. I should additionally point out that the filmscore was clearly extracted from Stokowski: Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Second movement, a loop of four repeated chords from a work which suits the entirety of this unique film.
My "Mousetrap" allusion in the heading is obviously linked to the famous Agatha Christie play, "The Mousetrap," where there are numerous "turn-abouts," a key feature of this movie. And frankly, I absolutely cannot reveal specific details of the 2008 film for that very reason -- nearly anything would be tantamount to a spoiler.
This film was produced in letterbox format (anamorphic widescreen, 2.35:1) and runs for and all-too-brief 89 minutes.
In summary, if you're up for a comedy-noir, dramatic movie, this one will surely entertain you though to its worthy conclusion.
wow
2009-08-30 - I didn't know what to expect going into Sleuth.
I don't want to give too much away as far as the storyline goes, but it's the kind of story that will keep you attached to your TV screen the entire time. Why?
Because the film is about one man who goes to see his wifes much older ex-husband. Actually, the older ex-husband is STILL legally married to the woman as the younger guy finds out, and this leads to one of the most delightfully presented and interesting mystery movies I've seen in a while because the two men obviously dislike each other and they both want the woman for themselves. The story is about the two of them playing serious games with each other. Head games basically.
I'm not sure if the two men even realized ahead of time if their little tricks would work or not, but both characters were witty and intelligent and were unable to completely fool each other, which is what made the plot so intriguing.
And the twists? There's many of them. One twist involving the detective totally floored me because I didn't see it coming.
You never actually see the wife though, because the entire movie takes place inside the mansion. A witty storyline to say the least, involving the two main characters and the deadly games they play with each other.
I recommend this movie to those who like to pay close attention to clever storylines, enjoy plot twists, and throw in just enough action to keep your attention.
First Half Is Excellent, But... 
2009-08-06 - The remake of "Sleuth" interested me, though I didn't care for the original film because the plot didn't appeal to me, for some reason. However, I saw both versions because I like Sir Laurence Olivier (the greatest Shakespearean actor, director, writer & producer of all time), Joseph Mankewicz (the director of "Cleopatra" and "All About Eve"), Sir Michael Caine, Jude Law ("AI: Artificial Intelligence")and Kenneth Branagh (the greatest Shakespearean actor, writer, director & producer after Sir Laurence Olivier), respectively. I also like the score by Patrick Doyle (brilliant composer). This is why I saw the remake.
The first half of this film is very well-paced and dialogue is bloody sharp and witty and I couldn't bloody well understand why I didn't like it the first time I saw it. Then, I saw why again about 15 minutes ago as I saw the rest. SPOILER WARNING!!!! After a shocking reveal (no kidding), the movie descended into what looked and sounded like gay undertones in the final 20-30 minutes of the film. If so, it's very weird, as Sir Michael Caine swore he'd never do another homosexual scene after the infamous kissing scene in "Deathtrap." SPOILER OVER!!!
All that having been said, it's a...mediocre effort from Kenneth Branagh. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT ONE OF HIS MOVIES. The first half of the movie is excellent, but the second half is very, very, very weird. Rated R, but it should have been rated PG-13.
Rent It, Maybe. Don't Buy It. 
2009-07-10 - I like both these actors and director, Kenneth Branagh, but I didn't like this film. The dramatic tension peaked early, then ran down hill to a finish that fizzled. I somewhat recall seeing the original, but don't remember it clearly. This film was probably a deeply satisfying endeavor for the actors and director involved, but didn't deliver a very satisfying entertainment experience to me, a member of the audience. I wonder how other audience members felt. I think these two acting titans should perform Slueth live on Broadway where seeing them on stage together would indeed be a much more entertaining, intense and marvelous experience. Maybe they did that already, loved it, and that's why they made the film?
Bizarre & Quirky Film
2009-07-09 - Alright, the acting in this movie is phenomenal! Michael Caine & Jude Law are the only actors in this film and they do a phenomenal job of acting throughout.
The set design and camera work were also equally phenomenal along with the acting as well. Plus the costuming and make-up were good too.
This movie is about revenge and how a successful writer, played by Michael Caine, goes about taking revenge on the man who has an affair and steals away his wife.
Some of the cat and mouse antics taken on by both characters goes a bit overboard in this movie. Otherwise a pretty good film.
