Marlowe

Story: A wealthy blonde heiress hires a private detective to track down her ex-lover. The only problem is that the ex-boyfriend is thought to be dead, but the heiress thinks he is still alive.

Review: Through “Marlowe,” Liam Neeson steps into the shoes of some legendary Hollywood actors. He plays the role of investigator Philip Marlowe, a Raymond Chandler creation that has previously been performed by Hollywood legends including Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, and James Caan in movies. Throughout its almost two-hour runtime, this neo-noir movie loops and never succeeds in fully engrossing viewers in the events. Even while the case in the movie is compelling, it can't really hold your attention. “The Black Eyed Blonde,” a novel by John Banville that was authorized by Raymond's estate, serves as the basis for this film, which ultimately proves to be a dreary affair.

The word "inert" might be a better choice to characterize the movie. Liam Neeson, who is already 70, looks wholly inappropriate for the part of Phillip Marlowe. He lacks the talent and charisma necessary to captivate this character, who in the novels is close to 40 years old. Also, viewers won't be able to stomach or buy into his lack of chemistry with Diana Kruger.

The movie's setting is late 1930s America, and it subtly but consistently pays homage to that time period by including scenes of Hollywood studios, movie posters, and movie talks. One area where the movie completely falls short is that it depicts a time when the Second World War had just begun, and the necessary ingredients are simply absent, with the exception of the final scene, in which spectators are exposed to a number of Nazi banners.

Set in 1939 Los Angeles, Rich heiress Clare Cavendish engages private investigator Phillip Marlowe to look into the disappearance of Nico, her ex-lover. The wealthy heiress tells the detective that she has seen him and is still very much alive, despite the fact that the majority of people think he is dead. When Marlowe meets people like Floyd Hanson, the manager of Corbata Club, Nico’s sister, and Lou Hendricks, a drug dealer, his subsequent investigations send him spiraling into a vortex of mystery. With the aid of Lou's driver Cedric, Marlowe is ultimately able to unravel the mystery.

Despite having a great ensemble, the performances in the movie don't truly stand out. In the books, Phillip Marlowe is portrayed as a melancholy, tired detective, but Liam Neeson has simply been unable to capture the mannerism. The wealthy blonde heiress Clare Cavendish, played by Diana Kruger, gives a subdued performance, but Jessica Lange's Dorothy manages to redeem the movie in a role that can at best be described as inconsequential. The movie contains almost everything a fan of noir cinema could want, but for some reason, it just doesn't come together. Fedora-wearing men, Venetian blinds, fashionable clothing, and flashy cars are all present, but they appear disconnected and only function in isolation. The plot devices and red herrings aren't really present in this movie because it moves in a straightforward manner. Director Neil Jordan, who has previously won an Oscar for a screenplay, uses all the techniques of the trade to turn it into an entertaining noir movie, but the final outcome is disappointing.

The Raymond Chandler novels or the Philip Marlowe persona are not disrespected in this movie, but the screenplay's ability to surprise the audience is definitely lacking. Marlowe's mise en scène will occasionally make you think of Roman Polanski's “Chinatown,” but overall it is a film that goes in circles and doesn't present its audience with anything particularly challenging. Despite being Liam Neeson's 100th movie, “Marlowe” won't stick in his memory.