Another movie

Happy Birthday, Dearly Departed Audrey!

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Tonight's movie: Sleuth, 1972, PG, 138 min
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine
Rating: *****

Sleuth, though a little slow in the start, quickly picks up speed and is a joy to behold and experience. The entire movie has the feeling of a play, which is appropriate considering the movie is made from a play (screenplay written by the playwright).

Basic Plot

I can't reveal too much without giving away anything, as there are surprises in even the first ten minutes or so. Laurence Olivier plays Andrew Wyke, a man who loves to play games; his mansion is filled with all kinds of games and playful trophies. Michael Caine plays the foil to Wyke's machinations. What more can I tell you? There is a plot twist or two that will hold your interest, though the first you suspect is coming. I think definitely for the time this movie came out, it took everyone by surprise. As it is, it's still a great deal of fun.

What I Didn't Like

The initial 20+ minutes kind of drags. But this initial time is really necessary for the setup. The DVD does not have English subtitles, or any subtitles, for that matter. Either it's my age or the sound on the DVD, but occasionally I missed words in the dialog, and I would have to rewind a couple of times or so to figure out what they were saying. To not have at least English subtitles on a DVD is a severe detriment. Overall, though, these are fairly minor quibbles.

What I Liked

I liked the plot twist, even if it is heavily foreshadowed. Olivier and Caine, of course, give superb performances, and it seems they react to each other very well. (Apparently, working with Olivier on this movie turned Caine into a huge fan, and they became lifelong friends.) The story is very entertaining and engrossing (beyong the somewhat lengthy introduction). In some ways, this reminds me of Deathtrap with Christopher Reeve and Michail Caine (could there be a pattern here?).

Spiritual Content

The movie addresses class issues (it takes place in England), and one has to wonder at the thought process that goes into deciding what these men decide is okay (again, it's a spoiler to explain too much at this point). Other than that, it's just a highly entertaining 2+ hours.

Recommendation

This movie is highly recommended, for it is a great gem. If you don't like plays adapted to film, then you might not like Sleuth, but you should give it a shot anyway.