Another night in, another awful movie that Sky purchased for their own distribution needs. I've seen some shockers through this system and whilst not quite as bad as "Anon", this adaptation, using the famous Raymond Chandler character, is pretty bad.
Private Detective Phillip Marlowe (Liam Neeson) is hired by Heiress Clare Cavendish (Diane Kruger) to look into the disappearance of her lover, Nico Peterson (Francois Amaud). Marlowe quickly discovers that Peterson was killed outside of a country club but when he presents the findings, Cavendish tells him that she has seen him since the purported death date, down in Tijuana. Marlowe continues to investigate, and tries to get his friend, Police Detective Joe Green (Ian Hart) to reopen the case.
I'm don't normally read the other reviews here until I've written mine but for whatever reason I did this time and I have to say that I'm baffled to see the ones that said that the actors in this were let down by the script and story. For me, that is entirely the opposite of the truth and it's hard to bring to mind any recent roles as spectacularly miscast as Liam Neeson is here. He is maybe twenty years older than the character needed to be and, handsome man as though he is, it's baffling to see Diane Kruger and some of the other characters flirt with him. Incidentally, he has zero chemistry with Kruger at all, and their scenes together, which should be witty, flirty banter are some of the most awkward and witless I've seen.
The story is actually OK, though it's not exactly fun and features repeated visits to the same locations over and over, presumably to save the budget. It's actually based on a book by John Banville, rather than a Chandler story itself and adapted by William Monahan, who has an Oscar for "The Departed" but has never quite recaptured that level of quality in any of his subsequent films. I do feel like the snappy dialogue is there in the script though, but again it's delivered with a lifeless monotony by Neeson that kills the films potential charm.
Just a waste of time.
Private Detective Phillip Marlowe (Liam Neeson) is hired by Heiress Clare Cavendish (Diane Kruger) to look into the disappearance of her lover, Nico Peterson (Francois Amaud). Marlowe quickly discovers that Peterson was killed outside of a country club but when he presents the findings, Cavendish tells him that she has seen him since the purported death date, down in Tijuana. Marlowe continues to investigate, and tries to get his friend, Police Detective Joe Green (Ian Hart) to reopen the case.
I'm don't normally read the other reviews here until I've written mine but for whatever reason I did this time and I have to say that I'm baffled to see the ones that said that the actors in this were let down by the script and story. For me, that is entirely the opposite of the truth and it's hard to bring to mind any recent roles as spectacularly miscast as Liam Neeson is here. He is maybe twenty years older than the character needed to be and, handsome man as though he is, it's baffling to see Diane Kruger and some of the other characters flirt with him. Incidentally, he has zero chemistry with Kruger at all, and their scenes together, which should be witty, flirty banter are some of the most awkward and witless I've seen.
The story is actually OK, though it's not exactly fun and features repeated visits to the same locations over and over, presumably to save the budget. It's actually based on a book by John Banville, rather than a Chandler story itself and adapted by William Monahan, who has an Oscar for "The Departed" but has never quite recaptured that level of quality in any of his subsequent films. I do feel like the snappy dialogue is there in the script though, but again it's delivered with a lifeless monotony by Neeson that kills the films potential charm.
Just a waste of time.