Sleuth

For the most part, I do not like remakes. But Kenneth Branagh's new version of Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth is one of those rare exceptions. I think that the reason that it works so well is because it is not really an out and out remake.

Joseph Mankiewicz directed the original 1972 film starring Laurence Olivier and Micheal Caine. And Shaffer adopted his own play. Here you have Branagh as the director and Harold Pinter as the screenwriter. Caine is in the new film but he has taken over the Olivier part. And now Jude Law plays the younger man.

Caine is Andrew Wyke, a successful writer. Law is Milo Tindle, an actor, hairdresser, chauffeur, etc. He is not that successful but he is having an affair with Wyke's wife Maggie. Tindle visits Wyke and they spend the night playing endless mind games. And that is what the film is - 90 minutes of endless games. Now this might not be everyone's cup of tea but it certainly is mine.
Branagh's direction is spot on and Pinter's writing is razor sharp. And both Caine and Law are terrific. I felt as it I were watching a wonderfully directed stage play (and originally that is what Sleuth was).

I am not going to talk much about the games. That would spoil your fun. But I will say that I had a good time watching this film. I will offer this - the film is much more homoerotic than the first version. I highly recommend this film to people who enjoy using their brains. And I just added the original Sleuth to my Netflix list and intend to watch it in the not too distant future. It has been a long time since I've seen it and it will be fun to compare the two versions.