If you're looking for a hardcore Marlowe movie review, then you've come to the right place. Marlowe is an adaptation of John Banville's 2014 authorized novel Blonde Black Eyed, which continues the story of Raymond Chandler's private detective Philip Marlowe. The film was directed by Neil Jordan and written by William Monahan. Despite promising elements, the film failed to captivate and is a flat and boring neo-noir with very little to offer.
A half-mystery with a weak narrative
Set in Bay City in 1939, Marlowe (played by Liam Neeson) is approached by Claire Cavendish (Diane Kruger), an heiress in search of her missing lover Nico Peterson (Francois Arnaud), a movie studio prop maker. Marlow gets down to business, but as he dives into the mystery, he realizes that everything is much more complicated than it seems. However, the revelations at the end sounded boring, and the plot and relationships of the characters do little to justify the almost two-hour scrolling of the film.
One-dimensional characters with awkward dialogue
Marlowe's film review probably should have started with the characters. The characters themselves are one-dimensional, and the actors have to contend with clumsy dialogue that often makes their delivery stiff. Kruger tries, but something is missing in her femme fatale, and the script for her character doesn't help at all. Neeson portrays Marlowe as if the private detective was just done with it all, and it makes one wonder if Neeson feels the same way.
Pale imitation of other neo-noir films
Marlow may be neo-noir, but it's hard not to think of it as a pale imitation of other, more successful films in the genre. The film tries its best to look and sound neo-noir, but it lacks the passion, the emptiness that pervades every scene and character exchange. The cinematography tries to give Marlow an old-school feel, but it fails and leaves a lot to be desired. The costumes, while beautiful, are reminiscent of what the film is trying to emulate.
The cast looks exhausted
Even the cast seems to have run out of steam, playing mostly wooden roles. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Cedric stole the show despite only being in the film for only a short time. Cumming chews through the scenery, and Houston is solid overall. However, the performance of the actors lacks enthusiasm, which makes the characters even more one-dimensional.
Marlowe: Passage Through Movements
The film "Marlowe" can be described as "a goofball". It's a movie that doesn't feel like it should be here, and every creative decision, down to the script and direction, proves it. Neo-noir may play a role, but it lacks everything that could make this film an enjoyable, Philip Marlowe magnetic experience. It's really a shame that the film has little to no personality to keep it afloat.
Overall, "Marlowe" tries its best to be intriguing, shifting from one cryptic subplot to another with little interest in its own storytelling. Lack of passion and emptiness pervades every scene of the film, and the characters are one-dimensional and play wooden. There is nothing in the film that can make him a pleasant and magnetic image of Philip Marlowe. So maybe the Marlowe movie review came out a little angry, but I hope I've saved you a couple of wasted hours of your life.
Recommended: Review "The Last of Us» - a triumphant and heartbreaking video game adaptation
