Sleuth (2007)

Average rating

(50%)

Starring:	Jude Law \| Michael Caine
Director:	Kenneth Branagh
Studio:	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	86 mins
Collections:	New releases
Genres:	Thriller
Languages:	English
Released:	April 28, 2008

This savvy remake promises just as many twists and pitch-perfect performances as the 1972 film. Since the original SLEUTH still shocks, some might question director Kenneth Branagh's desire to remake the classic, but Michael Caine doesn't reprise his role from the first film. Instead, he stars as the betrayed husband (first played by Lawrence Olivier), while Jude Law plays Caine's original role of the rogue who stole his wife away.

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Highest rated reviews

23 out of 23 people found the following review helpful:

*** May contain spoilers ***

Rated 0 stars
Totally and utterly awful

BobbyShaftoe from , 17th February, 2009

It's funny that this was written by Harold Pinter and directed by Ken Branagh, because it did seem like a play to me. A very bad one. I had the same thought as another reviewer, that this film came across as a drama school exercise, or a posh prat's party game. Both actors don't so much speak their lines as declaim them in each other's general direction, as if they were trying to act in a language other than English. Jude Law (who appears to have just escaped from a photoshoot for the River Island catalogue) is even worse than he usually is, but Michael Caine deserves better. The 'police detective' subterfuge is so blindingly, embarassingly, blatantly, obvious that I was chewing the remote control in frustration, waiting for them to put me out of my misery with the 'reveal'. And what's with all the drinking? Both characters are on their fourth or fifth before the movie's even 10 minutes in. Oh, and both characters are also complete morons. Probably because they're booze hounds. Appalling.

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15 out of 18 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars
Phenomenal

mistyhaze from , 2nd May, 2008

I disagree wholeheartedly with the other reviews. Although short, the film literally had me captivated from the first scene. Both Caine and Law put forward amazing performances, but I have to say that the way Law portrayed the character(s) was clever beyond belief. His conduct of phrases and vocabulary is out of this world, as previously seen in Closer. Anyone who likes a slightly out of the mainstream, arty type of film, but intelligent and witty at the same time will be in for a treat. Dont bother if you want the bulk standard run of the mill, blockbuster type of film.

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Most recent reviews

1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1 stars
All talent & no trousers

Ben Lang from Leicester, England, 15th June, 2009

I was bitterly disappointed with this 2007 version of the classic play. I think the key problem was for me that Michael Caine put ego in the way of the script and would have been better cast with someone like Anthony Hopkins. He seemed to be trying to say to the world, look at me, look at the great actor I have become; because I'm playing the part that Laurence Olivier played opposite me all those years ago. Trouble is this script wasn't anywhere near as good as the 1972 version and the high techery was just a massive distraction throughout. Both Jude Law & Micheal Caine put in good personal performances and bounce off each other but there just seems to be too much showing off going on here and less selfless acting that was found in the original. Jude Law relishes the part of the pretty boy because that's the role he always plays. I fully expect him to remake this yet again in another 30 years, this time him as the twisted playright. It's just one of those luvvy vehicles. The twist at the end was just embarrassing to watch and I couldn't wait for it all to end.

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