The Oxford Murders (2008)

Réalisateur:

Álex de la Iglesia

Writers:

Jorge Guerricaechevarría (writer)
Álex de la Iglesia (screenplay)
(suite)

Release Date:

18 janvier 2008 (Spain)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Plot:

At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try and stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols. |

Plot Keywords:

Oxford | Murder | Mathematics | Based On Novel

Avis des utilisateurs:

Two and two is four? I'm not even sure anymore …

Ensemble

Elijah Wood	...	Martin
John Hurt	...	Arthur Seldom
Leonor Watling	...	Lorna
Julie Cox	...	Beth
Burn Gorman	...	Podorov
Anna Massey	...	Mrs. Eagleton
Jim Carter	...	Inspector Petersen
Alan David	...	Mr. Higgins
Dominique Pinon	...	Frank
Tim Wallers	...	Defence Lawyer
James Weber-Brown	...	Doctor
Ian East	...	Howard Green
Charlotte Asprey	...	Mrs. Howard Green
Alex Cox	...	Kalman
Tom Frederic	...	Ludwig Wittgenstein
Michael Mears	...	Mathematician 2
James Howard	...	Newscaster
Danny Sapani	...	Scott
Doug Kirby	...	Security Guard
Sarah Crowden	...	Rude Shop Assistant
Bruce Jamieson	...	Soldier 1
Naomi Westerman	...	Argumentative student
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Roque Baños	...	Conductor
Martin Nigel Davey	...	Professor Wilkes
James Fiddy	...	Inspector
Duane Henry	...	PC Spencer
Thomas Snowdon	...	Soldier 2
John Wark	...	Policeman 2
Glyn Angell	...	Student (uncredited)
John Snowden	...	Professor in Lecture (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Álex de la Iglesia

Scénaristes (in alphabetical order)
Jorge Guerricaechevarría		writer
Álex de la Iglesia		screenplay
Guillermo Martinez		novel

Produit par
Álvaro Augustín	....	producer
Priscilla Bertin	....	supervising producer: France
Mariela Besuievski	....	producer
Vérane Frédiani	....	co-producer
Gerardo Herrero	....	producer
Álex de la Iglesia	....	producer
Kevin Loader	....	co-producer
Elena Manrique	....	producer
Franck Ribière	....	co-producer
Rosa Romero	....	line producer

Musique originale
Roque Baños

Image
Kiko de la Rica		(director of photography)

Montage
Alejandro Lázaro
Cristina Pastor

Distribution des rôles
Camilla-Valentine Isola
Gaby Kester

Création des décors
Cristina Casali

Direction artistique
Maria Chryssikos

Décorateur de plateau
Marshall Aver

Création des costumes
Paco Delgado

Maquillage
Neill Gorton	....	prosthetic effects designer
Carmel Jackson	....	hair stylist
Carmel Jackson	....	makeup artist
Jan Sewell	....	hair stylist
Jan Sewell	....	makeup designer

Directeur de production
Kevin Jenkins	....	unit manager

Assistant réalisateur
Jonny Benson	....	second assistant director
Dan Channing-Williams	....	third assistant director
Chris Croucher	....	additional third assistant director
Barrie McCulloch	....	first assistant director
Kenneth Thompson Marchesi	....	first assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
Caroline Barclay	....	stand-by art director
Pete Britten	....	art department (as Pete Brittan)
Craig Falco	....	art department assistant
Kate Halsall	....	art department assistant
Shane Harford	....	stand-by props
Richard Hart	....	painter
Ray McNeill	....	property master
Richard North	....	art department assistant
Camise Oldfield	....	art department assistant
Hugo Slight	....	construction manager
Jo Sweeney	....	graphic designer
Alex Walklate	....	art department assistant

Technicien du son
Jorge Adrados	....	assistant sound
Nicolas de Poulpiquet	....	sound re-recording mixer
Diego Garrido	....	sound re-recording mixer assistant
Danny Hambrook	....	sound recordist
Adam Laschinger	....	sound maintenance
Carlos Schmukler	....	sound editor

Effets spéciaux
Neal Champion	....	special effects supervisor
Peter Hawkins	....	prosthetic effects
Bernard Newton	....	special effects technician
Anthony Parker	....	prosthetic effects
Scott Peters	....	special effects technician
Joe White	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects
Félix Bergés	....	visual effects supervisor
Aníbal del Busto	....	digital compositor
Inma Nadela	....	digital compositor
Guillermo Orbe	....	digital compositor
Thorsten Rienth	....	digital compositor
Rafa Solorzano	....	visual effects supervisor
Carlos Trijueque	....	digital compositor
Daniel Trujillo	....	digital compositor

Cascadeur
George Cottle	....	stunt performer
Steve Griffin	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator
Andy Wareham	....	stunt double: Podorov
Andy Wareham	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Allsop	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Ariana Bonavia	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial director of photography
Daniel-Konrad Cooper	....	video assist operator
Nicola Dove	....	still photographer
Ian Evans	....	pilot: camera helicopter
Yosu Inchaustegui	....	camera operator
Raúl Morales	....	focus puller: "a" camera
David Penfold	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Tom Scott	....	rigger
Paul Sharp	....	rigging gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Otzen	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Javier Ugarte	....	post-production coordinator

Divers
Paul Brennan	....	floor runner
Daniel Castella	....	assistant to director
Daniel-Konrad Cooper	....	production assistant
Elton Farla	....	medical support
Emily Gardner	....	production runner
Sue Hills	....	script supervisor
Carlton Jarvis	....	medical advisor
Claudia Kalindjian	....	unit publicist
Gabby Le Rasle	....	production coordinator
Lewis Partovi	....	assistant production coordinator
Sarah Teboul	....	production accountant
Karen Vicary	....	assistant accountant

Production Companies

• Eurimages (financial support)
• Fatts
• La Fabrique de Films
• Telecinco Cinema
• Tornasol Films S.A.

Distributors

• Odeon Sky Filmworks (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• THINKFilm (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• THINKFilm (2007) (worldwide) (all media) (international sales)

Technicien des effets spéciaux

• Millennium FX

Other Companies

• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Arion Facilities  dailies telecine transfers
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles
• Docfarla Medical Support  medical coordination
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Fatts  post-production script services
• Film IT  production management software (as Film Fabric)
• Helicopter Film Services  aerial filming and helicopters
• Mediscene Ltd.  medical equipment

Autre(s) titre(s) :

Crimes à Oxford (France)
Oxford Crimes (Spain) (working title)

Durée:

Germany:107 min (European Film Market)

Pays:

Spain | France

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Classification:

Spain:13 | Italy:T

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

London, England, UK

Company:

Eurimages

Anecdotes:

Michael Caine was approached by director 'Álex De la Iglesia' to play the leading role. Jeremy Irons was also considered for this part that, ultimately, went to John Hurt.

Two and two is four? I'm not even sure anymore …

And the Award for most drastic alteration of stylistic trademarks and choice in movies goes to … Alex de la Iglesia! Seriously, if you would watch "The Oxford Murders" without knowing he directed it, you'd never ever be able to make the link with his previous and very recognizable accomplishments, like "Day of the Beasts", "La Communidad", "800 Bullets" and "Perdita Durango". This is a very slow-brooding and atmosphere-driven thriller with an absolute lack of blackly humorous situations; whereas practically all the director's other films are a combination of shocks, thrills and especially pitch-black comedy. Hey, good for him! We ought to applaud filmmakers who're courageous enough to try something entirely new and different. And it also has to be said that "The Oxford Murders" turned out to be quite an absorbing and suspenseful whodunit-thriller with a (too?) convoluted plot, intelligent albeit far-fetched red herrings, copious references towards classic cinematic landmarks as well as historical figures and engaging acting performances from a prominent cast. The script was adapted from a novel written by Guillermo Martinez and – according to an acquaintance of mine who actually read it – the events in the film faithfully follow those in the book. The determined American math whiz kid Martin travels to Oxford University, hoping to meet and work together with his idol; professor Arthur Seldom. The professor rapidly turns out to be an obnoxious bastard who humiliates Martin during a lecture and in front of numerous fellow students. The two are united after all when they discover the body of Martin's brutally murdered landlady together. Whoever the culprit was, he/she left behind a note with mathematical symbols on it, which indicates that the murder was only the beginning of a series. Naturally intrigued by the crime, Martin and Professor Seldom team up to solve the puzzle but, considering the complexity of the mathematic puzzle, they can't prevent the deaths of more victims. Be advised this is just an extremely simplified summary of the plot, as "The Oxford Murders" actually is a non-stop one hundred and something minutes series of incomprehensible math formulas, philosophical theories, amateur-detective speculations and verbal showdowns between an elderly wise guy and a young rookie. The story is overall compelling and never really boring, but sometimes director de la Iglesia dedicates too much time to the extended depiction of small anecdotes that eventually turn out to be fairly irrelevant to the actual plot. The re-enactment of the medieval "perfect crime" killing, for example, where a barber described 14 methods to kill his wife. It's fascinating footage, but only just a dispensable anecdote more likely to raise confusion than to clarify a point. Even though the academic and illuminate mumbo-jumbo sounds impressive and makes you feel sophisticated, you definitely don't have to be a child prodigy in order keep up with the script's pacing and red herrings. The murders are incredibly tame (though for a good reason) and there are very few moments of genuinely grueling terror, with the notable exception of Prof. Seldom's limbless friend and his lobotomy experiments. As to be expected, The Oxford area forms a terrific location to shoot an old-fashioned mystery-thriller. The arty buildings and ancient libraries look grandiose and there's even time for some British history lessons, with the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. John Hurt is once again sublime in his, by now trusted, role of arrogant elderly smart man and it's truly a joy to behold him when giving lectures. If I had a professor like Hurt when I was in college, I definitely would have attended more classes. Elijah Wood is pretty good as well, but – I'm very sorry – it's still impossible not to see him as the hairy-toed Hobbit looking for a precious ring. He could easily pass for a mathematical mastermind, I guess, but an irresistible womanizer?!? Martin's two love interests Lorna and Beth are charming and honestly affecting female characters. The actresses portraying them, respectively Leonor Watling and Julie Cox, are both heavenly beautiful and very talented women.