Console
best movie i've ever seen.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
manchester_england2004
SLEUTH is an adaptation of the stage play by the same name, written by Anthony Shaffer. It plays out as though it were a filmed play, mostly taking place not just at a single location, but mostly in one room at that.The plot is as follows - an eccentric millionaire invites his wife's lover to his house. The former proposes that the latter steal his wife's jewels from his safe and then claim the insurance. I won't give away any more of the plot, suffice to say that all is not what it seems and the two characters become engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse.Both Olivier and Caine invest a great deal of energy in their performances and no one could argue to the contrary. Olivier overacts at times, which I didn't expect. But both actors are enjoyable to watch in their roles... until all the endless talking without action becomes too boring that is.The problem with this film is that the plot simply doesn't deliver enough twists and turns. The plan to steal the jewels is talked about to an interminable degree. One would assume that Shaffer would have trimmed down the excessive dialogue for the big screen version. But he doesn't appear to have taken out even one line, judging by the film's length, which is simply too long for the story being told here.I really can't understand how this film can be held in such high regard. From reading some of the other reviews, I discovered that it was once listed in IMDb's top 250 films. There's no way that this film is one of the 250 best films of all time. I wouldn't even place it anywhere near the top 250 of my own personal list of films that I've seen. It's technically well-made and nice to see the performances of the two great actors but the film itself is boring and I was frequently looking at the elapsed time when watching it. I was hoping for a surprise denouement at the end of the film. But there wasn't one. The few twists and turns there are became easier to predict after the first one, which admittedly surprised me a little.Overall, SLEUTH is a disappointing thriller. It's labelled as a mystery but the only real mysteries are how this film attained such a high rating and why Shaffer thought it was a good idea to transfer his play to the big screen without making any apparent changes. Stage and film are two different mediums and Shaffer seems to forget this as he made this film.
chaswe-28402
Takes the Mickey, as they say. Surprise, surprise. The joke's on Shaffer, but I don't think he knew it. He doesn't seem at all aware of it in his off-putting interview, so intensely modest. Lord Olivier, whom we all know as Larry, is first reported to have had an extremely low opinion of Sleuth. It's a piece of p, he is supposed to have told Anthony Quayle, while railing at him for appearing in the original stage performance. I can't help feeling that Larry eventually leapt at the opportunity of taking the p out of Shaffer by performing in it himself. He gives the hammiest ever act as the passé whodunnit writer, capturing every nuance of cliché, in wild exaggeration. No-one seems aware of just how corny he comes across; not Shaffer, Mankiewicz, or even Mickey Caine. Or are they ? Or we ? It's very difficult to tell. But these days it's also a little difficult to last the full distance. Its almost unaccountable past popularity must have been because it was different then, though virtually dead today. Do the young of these times catch the slightest whiff of this kind of whimsy Wimsey ?
John Brooks
As you'll find out very quickly during the film, there are basically two characters in this whole entire 2:20 runtime. Needless to say considering the sort of very intricate dialog required for this film's atmosphere, the closer attention to cinematography, and just overall the very highly ambitious construction around such a basic plot...there is an enormous amount of work on display in this piece, and about half the film relies on both lead actors Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier who produce masterful performances, and whether too theatrical for the tastes of some, there's no denying the excellence manifested throughout this eerie comedy. So there's no questioning the cumulative quality of all those elements, from the acting to the cinematography, the fine structure, and the very well done job for such a limited setting. But the problem here is the film is arguably 30 minutes too long, not that the film even stretches its scenes but rather adds just too much in the end. There's just too much "Sleuth" in 'Sleuth'. The film feels like it's about a couple of mystery-thrillers in one, there are just too many elements in the story, too many full acts put together, it's just too heavy for one single motion picture and the whole point of it could've been delivered without some of its extra weight. As we're through a good 1hr30, there comes another full act to the play with its own tensions, events... it's a little bit of overkill really. But this doesn't take away the great cinema work besides that aspect. It's just that when past that point of smooth rhythm and a few good twists already, the viewer is left with the ending as a final impression as the conclusion of the whole piece; and one could very well feel the last chapter here is on the side of excess spoiling an otherwise grand coup of cinema.
ma-cortes
Agreeable mystery based on successful play about a cat and mouse game . Andrew Wyke (Laurence Olivier) is a famous writer who lives in a luxurious mansion . He loves games and theater invites his wife's lover to meet him . Wyke is a successful novelist , a master of menace , the number one bestseller author from Baron Books . There arrives Milo (Michael Caine) , a hairdresser who seeks to convince the former for signing the divorce papers and Andrew in seeking avenge on his detested and unfaithful wife . Andrew and Milo setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results . An ultimate game is being played on its audience .This lighthearted suspense/mystery based on a hit play from Anthony Shaffer and being well adapted ; dealing with games-playing mystery novelist played by Olivier leading his spouse's lover performed by Caine into diabolical trap . The original stage production of "Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer opened on Broadway on 12 November 1970. It originally starred Anthony Quayle as Andrew and Keith Baxter as Milo, ran for 1222 performances and won the 1971 Tony Award for the Best Play . This is a deliciously sardonic and witty movie and excellently starred by a magnificent protagonist duo ; both are the peak of their game in this dazzling film . This interesting movie is plenty of twists and turns and stunning surprises . Splendid and fascinating performances , a real Tour De force for two stars . Michael Caine was so very much beside himself to be working with Laurence Olivier, that he didn't even know how to address him . However , Michael Caine was the third choice for the part of Milo Tindle after Albert Finney , who was deemed too plump, and Alan Bates , who turned down the role . The film only had two stars - the rest of the cast were made-up names . In addition to Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975), only one of three films in which entire on-screen billed cast received acting Oscar nominations . Packs a jolly and adequate soundtrack , including a haunting, remarkable musical leitmotif by John Addison , who was nominated for an Oscar for his music score. Colorful cinematography by Oswald Morris as well as appropriate production design by Ken Adam . Remade many years later as ¨Sleuth¨(2007) by Kenneth Branagh starred by Jude Law and again Michael Caine as Wyke ; including modern production design and set on a stark house , monitored with high tech . However, it is inferior the first version that was a directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz, in his last film . In the similar style was subsequently filmed 'Deathtrap' by Sidney Lumet with Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon and also Michael Caine. Rating : Good, delicious from start to finish. It's a great and enjoyable fun.
