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Andrew Wyke (Michael Caine) is a successful but aging mystery/ thriller novelist whose wife has an affair with Milo Tindle (Jude Law), a part time actor/ hairdresser. As Milo is interested in marrying his lover, he visits Andrew to ascertain what it would take for Andrew to allow his wife to have a divorce. In the duel of wits, it seems at the start that the much younger Milo with the plebeian background is no match for the high-born, wealthy and snobbish Andrew. The latter reminds Milo that his wife has expensive tastes and to support her, Milo needs a lot of cash. Andrew proposes that Milo stage a robbery of the wife’s jewels with the help of Andrew. Milo can sell the jewels to a “fence”. Andrew knows and have the money. Andrew on the other hand, claims the million dollars insurance. Milo falls for the trap and is greatly humiliated. Smug that Milo cannot get back at him, Andrew is taken by surprise by Milo’s ingenious act of revenge. Like in a game of tennis where the players each win a set, each protagonist prepares for his opponent’s next move. Who shall win this deadly game?
Sleuth (2008) is said to be a “reinvention”, rather than an adaptation of the 1972- Joseph L. Man-kiewicz film with the same title. Sleuth (based on a Tony Award Winning stage play by Anthony Shaffer) which starred Lawrence Olivier and Michael Caine. This is attributed to the script written by Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter, one of the great living playwrights of the English language. Indeed, the dialogue sizzles with wit, sounding so civil and “refined” yet so cutting and menacing. To understand and appreciate the picture, one must carefully listen to the dialogue, to catch the devious insinuations and double meanings. The 86 minute movie is cleverly constructed in three parts, each part neatly delineated from the others yet smoothly flowing into each other. The unpredictable story line keeps the audience’s interest. Michael Caine delivers a masterful performance as the vindictive character with the darkly inventive mind and Jude Law is the effective foil. However, the viewer hardly empathizes with either. Though technically commendable, the film is crackling dry and lifeless like Andrew’s almost bare mansion of cold steel and crystal. Steeped in stage craft, Director Kenneth Brannagh tries to relieve the monotony since most of the scenes are in the same setting varying camera work through very good shots at different angles and also presenting outdoor scenes of beauty and serenity.
Much of the strength of Sleuth 2008 lies in the dialogue but it is also its weakness. It has wit but it is also suffused with foulness and dirt. Four letter words abound. Homosexuality becomes gradually more palpable as the movie progresses and shows its unpleasant underside and sad consequences. The characters may be highly intelligent but they are flawed. Vengeance is the motivating force in their lives. As the movie shows, revenge can never come to any good. One cannot win even if one feeds one’s anger and tries to get even. One can only get hurt. As someone said, anger is a fire that consumes. It affects both the doer and the receiver of revenge.
(Date Reviewed: 06 March 2008)
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