Classic But Strictly-By-the-Numbers Whodunnit
As "See How They Run" (2022 release from the UK; 98 min) opens, we are in "London's West End, 1953" where Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" whodunnit play is celebrating its 100th performance. American Leo Kopernick, blacklisted in Hollywood for being a communist, has been hired to direct a movie adaptation. Kopernick isn't getting along with either the movie's script writer or its lead stars, and is killed. Enters Scotland Yard Inspector Stoppard and rookie Constable Stalker... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the feature length debut of British TV director Tom George. Here he brings a classic whodunnit that is strictly-by-the-numbers. We have no idea who committed this vile act. Everyone is a suspect and has a motive. Along the way veteran Inspector Stoppard and his rookie sidekick Constable Stalker fumble and stumble and of course get to the truth. All of it is so predictable. The movie is saved from ruin in large part by its lead performances: Adrien Brody is the American film director in exile in London; Sam Rockwell is the veteran Inspector Stoppard; and last but not least Saoirse Ronan is the rookie cop Stalker. It took me a minute to realize it really was Ronan, as she is barely recognizable in the most plain of ways. (As a complete aside, "The Mousetrap" is in real life the longest running West End show ever, debuting in 1952 and now approaching its 30,000th performance. It blows the mind.)
"See How They Run" had a brief US theatrical release last September, and then started showing on HBO and HBO Max (where I caught it) not long ago. If you are in the mood for a classic whodunnit murder mystery that goes strictly by the numbers while sporting solid lead performances, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the feature length debut of British TV director Tom George. Here he brings a classic whodunnit that is strictly-by-the-numbers. We have no idea who committed this vile act. Everyone is a suspect and has a motive. Along the way veteran Inspector Stoppard and his rookie sidekick Constable Stalker fumble and stumble and of course get to the truth. All of it is so predictable. The movie is saved from ruin in large part by its lead performances: Adrien Brody is the American film director in exile in London; Sam Rockwell is the veteran Inspector Stoppard; and last but not least Saoirse Ronan is the rookie cop Stalker. It took me a minute to realize it really was Ronan, as she is barely recognizable in the most plain of ways. (As a complete aside, "The Mousetrap" is in real life the longest running West End show ever, debuting in 1952 and now approaching its 30,000th performance. It blows the mind.)
"See How They Run" had a brief US theatrical release last September, and then started showing on HBO and HBO Max (where I caught it) not long ago. If you are in the mood for a classic whodunnit murder mystery that goes strictly by the numbers while sporting solid lead performances, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
- paul-allaer
- Jan 14, 2023