Stream it now Sleuth Reset Status Want to Watch Already Watched Don't Want to Watch

Let's rock this joint.

I'm a man of both simple and complex pleasures. I take as much pleasure out of looking at the sunset as I do watching some jigsaw puzzle. I pray for the continued life of the extremist who you watch as you would a car crash, and I have nothing but contempt for those, especially on television, who are nothing but vapid and bore me to the core.

Which is why, when I watched Sleuth, Joseph L. Mankiewicz's final masterpiece today, I absolutely loved it. Here's a small review that I placed on another messageboard.

SLEUTH - Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1972. Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine.



So, all I can say is that Caine and especially Olivier both give the performances of their lives, the screenplay is as brutal and acerbic as anything by Mankiewicz (It was written by Anthony Shaffer, adapted from his own play), the direction is great, with superb touches, and the detail is something else. In the end, it's one of the best thrillers of all time, and one of the most fun. The score's superb as well - i'm not exaggerating when I suggest that you should see this movie NOW. Without any delay.

It's a movie for the old artful dodger in us all - the one who loves to play games, and loves to win.

----

It is an absolute keeper. I'm glad i've seen it - it's one of those movies that's seemingly tailor-made to my own self.

A little more background information now - in this deeply exciting letter from the country of Britain, you might not see that many newer films. I generally watch more classics, depending on what I get on DVD. In this pitiful town, I do not have access to a decent cinema, which does limit me. Still, I intend to add plenty of reviews for most things. I have many here, after all.

The Conservatives hold in a place called Congleston, and the UK Independence Party candidate is complaining about missing ballots. Missing ballots? Perhaps it was just the fact that this party runs on one thing only - constant whining about keeping the bastard pound, and nothing else. Perhaps Congleston called their bullshit.

And, as the whining fades away, and my cat murders a fly, it's a good night.

This movie which takes place in one house and goes on for about 20 minutes to long. Could have been a lot better had it been a little shorter. I have never really liked Michael Caine, however he is good in this while acting with Laurence Olivier. The story is simple yet very weird. Michael Caine is invited to Laurence's house. Michael is having an affair with his wife and Laurence knows it. Then the story unfolds with some weird games insuing. This movie moves very slow. But it is done well. It's nothing I'd buy but its worth watching for the performaces alone.

Comments pending.

***.5/****

Pro: Great acting by two masters. The direction. The closeup shots that all have meaning in the end. The games.

Con: Slow start. A little too long.

"Sleuth" is a film adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's play. The film retains a theatrical quality with a small setting and two main characters. This is not a detriment to the film, which is a delight from start to finish. The film's sets are excellent, and the little trinkets and games scattered in the sets in the English country home add to the film.

This film does not follow the traditional mystery mold of Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle, but rather the rivalry and "battle of wits" between Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Olivier plays Andrew Wyke, an eccentric detective fiction author who does wonderfully amusing impressions of stock characters from mystery novels. Caine is excellent as the "young upstart" Milo Tindle, who seeks the hand of Wyke's wife.

Ultimately the fun of "Sleuth" is in trying to anticipate where the story will turn and how far Wyke and Tindle will go. If you are a fan of mysteries, "Sleuth" is essential viewing because of its engaging plot and performances.

The stars have a ball with this exceptional adaptation of award winning play from Anthony Shaffer, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Mystery writer Laurence Olivier invites his wife's lover, played by Michael Caine to his lavish country home - perhaps to propose a scheme that would benefit both of them. Ah, but what's the real purpose. Stay poised and ready for thrills as both stars lead us through devilishly cunning script, filled with crackerjack conclusion. Both stars and their director were Oscar nominated. A must see as well.

Boy howdy, lemme tell ya. I sure needed today. It's 9:30 p.m. and I have done nothing but watch movies all day. I haven't even showered. Ah, yes. I remember these days. THIS is what it was like being single.

I actually flipped to the Grammys at a few points waiting for Clerks II to start. I saw Alicia Keys dueting with Frank Sinatra. I like Alicia. I like Ol' Blue Eyes. But it was as bad as it sounds. Then I saw Morris Day and the Time singing. It was rather sad to see them show their age with how little energy they seemed to have. Then Rihanna popped out wearing a tumbleweed and completely sucked any life out of the stage. Chica, you're like 20. Couldn't you, I dunno, and least sound energized? I pretty much gave up at that point. I was so not gonna watch that shit hoping to catch the Foo Fighters perform with John Paul Jones. I'll catch it on YouTube.

So yeah, I finished the day by rewatching Kevin Smith's sendoff to his "Askewniverse" since I first saw it in theaters. How could any hetero dude not want to marry Rosario Dawson after watching this? What any chick sees in Dante is beyond me, though. I guess he's kinda sweet. When he's not porking his boss behind his fiancee's back. But, it's the perfect finish for this series of five movies now. Juvenile, peurile, disgusting and very often hilarious. The jokes at Elias's expense are way too easy and mostly dumb (A pussy troll named Pillowpants? Really?) but that's made up by Randall and his need to take back "porch-monkey". And we get a nice Busby-Berkeleyish dance sequence set to the Jackson Five.

The day started with Spellbound. It's Hitchcock so out of respect for the master I guess I'll be nice. The Dali inspired dream sequence was... surreal. And the black humor in spots was funny. Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck are great actors. Maybe not in this mov... Ah dammit. There I go.

After that disappointment was The Maltese Falcon. It's got Peter Lorre and Humphrey Bogart. What? You need more? It's John Huston's directorial debut. It's based on Dashielle Hammett, so you know it's got those great pulpy moments. Lines that live in this world:

-"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter, eh?"

-"I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. Talking's something you can't do judiciously, unless you keep in practice."

-"If he's got to be careful not to drink too much, it's because he's not to be trusted when he does."

Then there's Bogie giving that great sendoff to Brigid, and of course, that classic closing line...

It's at this point in the day I find out it's "mystery day" on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar. Next up was Murder on the Orient Express. It's a fun mystery that really doesn't amount to much in the end. But Albert Finney is great as Hercule Poirot and who could ever pass up a cast like this:

Ingrid Bergman (in her third Oscar-winning performance)

Martin Balsam

Lauren Bacall

Richard Widmark

Sean Connery

Jacqueline Bisset

John Gielgud

Anthony Perkins

Vanessa Redgrave

Such a rare assemby of great talent, and not one of them showboats or tries to chew up their scenes.

Then there was the pleasant surprise of the day: Slueth. I probably shouldn't say pleasant surprise, since it does star Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, but I don't think I ever expected it to be this good. I'd rather not give anything away about this twisting plot, but it's essentially a 138 minute pissing match between two men who keep trying to emasculate each other. It's Caine and Olivier on screen the whole way through (save a short appearance by an actor Alec Cawthorne working in his one and only film) and it's damn brilliant.

And right now, Bride of Chucky is on Sci-Fi. Katherine Heigl is so hot. I don't reckon I'd turn down Jennifer Tilly, either. Ah hell, it's John Ritter! Completely forgot he's in this. Damn... might be a late night. Eh, I just remembered it's on Sci-Fi. The big money shot of the dude getting creamed by the semi is going to be cut out. I wonder if they'll keep in the puppet sex...

I'd also like to add that I really don't want to not like Barack Obama or Mike Huckabee. They seem like such nice guys. Too bad one is a little to "religious nutball" for my taste, and the other is just about completely antithetical to my political beliefs. At least I think so. It's hard to know exactly where he stands on anything. Except hope and change. I know he's for hope and change. And bettering America. And other empty rhetoric.

Ah, dammit. I'm rambling.

Time for a beer and bed!

Sleuth was a fun film with great performances by the only two actors ever on screen (Michael Caine and an especially wonderful performance from Laurence Olivier). The suspense is great, the twists fun, and the plot innovative. Check this one out.

(****):

A great film and a new favorite of mine. Olivier and Caine are just plain brilliant here and Schaffer's writing is superb. Any real fan of cinema should seek this one out (it is rather hard to get ahold of right now though).

While I have not yet seen it's recent remake, the classic Sleuth lives up to all the hype and then some with a strong storyline and two all-time acting greats going head to head in a game of minds. It will be hard to say some of the best things about the film without saying to much but I will say in order to get the films full experience you should go in with as little knowledge as possible. Michael Caine and Laurence Oliver are not only a riot during the films light hearted moments, but at the same time pulse poundingly eerie during the movies intense moments. So powerful they elevate beyond the screen to deliver some of the most rememberable shots on film you'll ever find.

Sleuth is a dark yet oddly comical film that offers so much more than just a simple story, it is a powerful emotional ride of which there is no escape.