Sleuth (UK, 2007) 'boring, stagey, arthritic, misconceived'

[batman]

I didn't like the original so I will will be giving this a wide berth. I admire Kenneth Branagh as a director but this seemed like a non-starter from the moment it was announced. If the original is such a 'classic' that it demands a remake, why let Pinter fiddle around with it. Gimmick casting (in this instance Caine as the other character) rarely works and it looks like this one is a right stinker.

Bats.

[orpheum]

I thought the original was rubbish.So this remake is hardly likely to be better.Anyone who wants to see it better do so this week otherwise it is likely to disappear as quickly as Englands defence.

[batman]

Originally Posted by orpheum otherwise it is likely to disappear as quickly as Englands defence.

... it seems there is to be no escape from our embarrassment!

Bats.

[Mr Cosmo]

I made a point of not reading this thread until today having returned from seeing SLEUTH at my local Odeon. I only have vague memories of the first film and my 24-year-old son had not seen it at all.
5 people in the cinema - perfectly projected and nice and quiet without the smell of popcorn. I thought it was a fair old stab at the story although the modernisation didn't really work as the mannerisms and values and essence of the whole thing belonged to an earlier time and place and reflect an England that few of us can identify with now. Michael Caine was very good - so much so that I forgot it was Michael Caine. Jude Law - hmmm. Not sure he was up to the task of equalling Caine and of course the whole thing depended on that.
My son did say that some of it was reminiscent of THE SERVANT which was true. It held the attention for 90 minutes - yes , a modern film that runs for only 90 minutes - other film makers please note.
I'd give it 3 out of 5, good effort, just lost its way a little at the end.

And by coincidence they showed the trailer for ST TRINIAN'S with some kids blowing up a van and one of them saying "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off".

What goes around comes around....

[christoph404]

I quite liked the original film, it was very stagey and theatrical but then it was a film of an original and very successful stage play. Alan Bates was considered for the role in the film that Caine eventually took. (this is a true story) Bates went to see the play at a London theatre to see what it was all about and when the Milo Tindle character is apparently murdered in the first half Bates didn't bother going back in to see the rest of the play after the interval! He expressed no desire to appear in a film where his character is killed off half way through! Strange man!

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by christoph404 Alan Bates was considered for the role in the film that Caine eventually took. (this is a true story) Bates went to see the play at a London theatre to see what it was all about and when the Milo Tindle character is apparently murdered in the first half Bates didn't bother going back in to see the rest of the play after the interval! He expressed no desire to appear in a film where his character is killed off half way through! Strange man!

Pity that. I much prefer Bates to Caine...

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by Mr Cosmo I made a point of not reading this thread until today having returned from seeing SLEUTH at my local Odeon. I only have vague memories of the first film and my 24-year-old son had not seen it at all. 5 people in the cinema - perfectly projected and nice and quiet without the smell of popcorn. I thought it was a fair old stab at the story although the modernisation didn't really work as the mannerisms and values and essence of the whole thing belonged to an earlier time and place and reflect an England that few of us can identify with now. Michael Caine was very good - so much so that I forgot it was Michael Caine. Jude Law - hmmm. Not sure he was up to the task of equalling Caine and of course the whole thing depended on that. My son did say that some of it was reminiscent of THE SERVANT which was true. It held the attention for 90 minutes - yes , a modern film that runs for only 90 minutes - other film makers please note. I'd give it 3 out of 5, good effort, just lost its way a little at the end. And by coincidence they showed the trailer for ST TRINIAN'S with some kids blowing up a van and one of them saying "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off". What goes around comes around....

That was the best thing about St. Trinians

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by christoph404 I quite liked the original film, it was very stagey and theatrical but then it was a film of an original and very successful stage play. Alan Bates was considered for the role in the film that Caine eventually took. (this is a true story) Bates went to see the play at a London theatre to see what it was all about and when the Milo Tindle character is apparently murdered in the first half Bates didn't bother going back in to see the rest of the play after the interval! He expressed no desire to appear in a film where his character is killed off half way through! Strange man!

Apparently Albert Finney was considered for the part as well. There was a problem finding someone who was prepared to go head to head Olivier.

[blacknorth]

Originally Posted by christoph404 I quite liked the original film, it was very stagey and theatrical but then it was a film of an original and very successful stage play. Alan Bates was considered for the role in the film that Caine eventually took. (this is a true story) Bates went to see the play at a London theatre to see what it was all about and when the Milo Tindle character is apparently murdered in the first half Bates didn't bother going back in to see the rest of the play after the interval! He expressed no desire to appear in a film where his character is killed off half way through! Strange man!

Mm. The story I read (was it in Olivier's memoir) was that Bates was committed to touring with the stage play Butley at the time and could not reschedule to film Sleuth.

I think Bates would have been rather better at the role as he and Olivier did tend to ham it up at times and it probably would have been very interesting as an acting contest built into the film as one of their games.

I liked the original but I would have cut the whole Inspector part and just had a straight stand off between the first and last acts. Haven't seen the remake.