Official Synopsis:
Directed by critically-acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh, Jude Law and two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine (1986, Best Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters; 1999, Best Supporting Actor, The Cider House Rules) join forces in this sharp-witted, modern adaptation of the 1972 classic, Sleuth. Locked in a high-tech English manor, bound in a deadly duel of wits, Andrew Wyke (Caine) and Milo Tindle (Law) come together as English gentlemen to discuss the matter of Wyke's wife: the woman both are sleeping with. But as wit becomes wicked and clever becomes cutthroat, Wyke and Tindle's game of one-upmanship spirals out of control in an escalating chess match that can have only one outcome: murder.

  
Our Take:
Sleuth is one of those odd movies that is both incredibly interesting and strangely unsettling. Based on the stage play by Anthony Shaffer and adapted by Harold Pinter, the film stars a cast of exactly two known actors: Jude Law and Michael Caine. In it, both men are sleeping with the same woman (it’s Caine’s wife, Law’s lover). When they meet to determine who deserves her love in a battle of wits, things take a dark turn as the ultimate game of cat and mouse begins. I know that sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but this film is impossible to talk about plot-wise without giving away some major spoilers.

At times, though, it seems as if the story is second to the acting and the dialogue. Sleuth is one of those films that at times seems just a bit too clever and well-spoken for its own good. That being said, however, the dialogue is satisfying and the performances are electrifying, if a bit over the top. It’s really hard to put a finger on this movie; even days after having watched it, I still can’t decide if I liked it or not. I feel the same way about the script and the acting; in some ways, I loved all of these things, and in other ways they left me wanting. It’s a very bizarre sensation to have a film leave you that unsure of your opinion, but if any film will have that effect on you, it’s Sleuth.

This remake of the 1972 film is ably directed by Kenneth Branagh, who manages to take a one-location story and keep it from feeling claustrophobic for about the first 2/3 of the movie. There is some fantastic cinematography and some beautiful shots, and I think the film would have been much less enjoyable if it was helmed by a less talented director.

The DVD isn’t overloaded with extra features, but it does present some substantial goodies.

- Commentaries – One with director Kenneth Branagh and Michael Caine and one with Jude Law. Why all three couldn’t sit together is beyond me.
- A Game of Cat and Mouse: Behind the Scenes of Sleuth (15 minutes) – A solid making-of.
- Inspector Black: Make-up Secrets Revealed (3 minutes) – To say more would give something away.

Ultimately, I have to say that I enjoyed watching Sleuth, even if it does take some strange and dark turns. It’s not the type of film that people looking for a cheap suspense thriller will like, but if you enjoy a good thinking man’s movie, Sleuth has enough to offer to keep your interest.

Overall Picture:
Movie: B-
DVD: C+

- Mike Spring
Editor