Copyright 1982 Warner Brothers Pictures
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Much apologies on the long amount of time between posts. I have to admit that Twin Peaks has taken over my life (for the second time) since its coming onto Netflix Instant Watch. I am happy to report that Maddie and I are currently on episode 18 or 30, so it will free its hold over me quite soon. Yesterday, however, I took an evening break from the series with this film.
Last night’s viewing was my second time seeing the movie in addition to having once before seen the stage play many years ago at The Little Theatre in Winston Salem. Directed by the late Sidney Lumet, this film is based on Ira Levin’s stageplay of the same name. Washed up playwright, Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine), hasn’t had a hit in years. He has had to live off his wealthy wife (Dyan Cannon), who has a heart condition, to survive. When a spec play entitled Deathtrap comes to his house from a seminar student, Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve), Bruhl realizes an amazing opportunity to make a comeback. However, is a comeback worth murder?
If you have seen Sleuth (1972), which as a side note is an amazingly good film, then you will like this film. They share many similarities in, not only character, but also plot twists, reversals, etc. Being a stage play to begin with, the majority of the plot takes place in one location – Bruhl’s East Hampton estate. An almost two hour movie being limited to one location can be daunting, but Lumet does a great job at keeping the location interesting with a series of dolly, crane and other camera movements.
All of the actors do a fine job, particularly Caine and Reeve; Cannon can be a bit melodramatic, but it works for the part. I really can’t say much more without giving certain plot points away and, in honesty, that is why you would want to watch this film. Everything here is plot centric because of the nature of the work; it is a murder mystery in two acts.
It’s not as good to me as the original (there was a remake with Caine and Jude Law which is average) Sleuth with Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier, but it is a fun watch and keeps you interested. My only complaint is that it grows a bit long in the second act, but this again I think is due to the complications of adapting from the stage to film.
notesonafilm 