Movie Review - See How They Run

Director: Tom George
Genre: Mystery/ Comedy
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrian Brody, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo
 
Description: In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered.

Review: Thanks to a fine cast and good pace, you’ll fly right through the murder mystery comedy “See How They Run”, which both praises Agatha Christie’s work and makes fun of it.

London, 1953. We open in the West End, the place to be for anyone interested in theater. The play “The Moustrap” is being played for the hundredth time, which is a whodunit by Agatha Christie. American director Leo Kopernick complains: “It’s such a typical detective play”. He is in London preparing for the film version: “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all”.

Not much later, Leo is found dead in the theater, and that’s where the whodunit starts. Who could have killed Leo? That’s where Inspector Stoppard and rookie partner Constable Stalker come in.

Don’t expect any big surprises in the feature debut from director Tom George. With “See How They Run” he shows how to skillfully seduce the viewer: the setting is beautiful, the cast great and the pace fast. Especially Stoppard and Stalker are a fantastic duo to watch, bickering and clumsy putting the pieces o the puzzle together. Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan, who played these characters, were my favorite thing about the film.

I love a good whodunit. And, in my opinion, “See How They Run” really succeeds. It was highly enjoyable and they actually also had many nods to Agatha Christie, probably the queen of whodunits. To actually feature her as a character is maybe a bit too much, but overall I loved this film. 

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 4
Year: 2013
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Sienna Guillory, David O’Hara

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: In the third season of “Luther”, John Luther is secretly investigated by his former colleague Erin Gray and her new partner George Stark. They try to get Luther’s loyal partner Justin Ripley to get on board with them.
Like season 2, this season only had four episode and it deals with two cases. The first case follows a serial killer, who copies the murders from the Shereditch Keeper that happened 30 years ago. This is case has some real scary moments, because the killer is pretty creepy During this investigation, Luther is also asked to look into another case. What he doesn’t know is, that Luther was requested by Stark and Gray do investigate this case. This way they want to catch him red handed when he makes a mistake or he shows his unorthodox methods.
The second case deals with a man who suffers from ‘hero complex’. At least that’s what Luther thinks. The suspects murders criminals like pedophiles, who he believes didn’t get the right punishment for the crime.
Luther is also getting a bit of romance in this season, in the form of Mary. Luther gets to know her, when he accidentally hits her car.
The show had a very good finale, mostly thanks to Idris Elba and a surprising return of a beloved character. But overall, this was so far my least favorite season. I loved how they did it in the first season, one case per episode.

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 4
Year: 2011
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Aimee Ffion-Edwards, Kierston Wareing

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: John Luther, a complex man with a complicated personal and professional life. Luther is a very intelligent man, explosive, aggressive, emotional. And in season 2 we get to know the detective a little bit more. His relationship with Alice is strange, but also the relationship between him and Mark.
After the happenings at the end of season 1, we’re back in London and there are some changes. DS Ripley is back in uniform, Alice is in a mental hospital and Luther ‘plays’ Russian roulette with his father’s gun.
Luther wouldn’t be Luther if he didn’t ask Ripley back. Because his loyalty is worth much to Luther. DSU Schenk leads a new team and Luther and Ripley join him. There they meet DS Erin Gray, who does everything by the book, unlike Luther and Ripley.
Season 1 had six episode, this season has only 4. And there are two cases, taking over two episodes each. Alice is out of the picture, so we need a new red thread. This comes in the form of Jenny Jones, a prostitute working in the adult film industry. Her mother thinks it’s involuntary and Luther comes to the rescue. I’d rather see more of Alice, but this is also an interesting change.
“Luther” is a show that grabs you, thanks to again the fantastic performance by Idris Elba in the titular role. His very honest and realistic emotions are something many of us can relate to. How it doesn’t let him go. And we can somehow also understand the blind trust that Schenk and Ripley have in him.
Again, a really great season.

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2010
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Indira Varma, Steven Mackintosh, Saskia Reeves

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: When I started this show, I thought there were enough British detectives. But when you’ve got Idris Elba as your lead, it’s a little different. Elba turns a very standard role into something special.
At the start of season 1, we see Luther chasing a man, who seemingly has abducted and killed girls. We see how Luther can rescue him from falling down, but he purposely doesn’t. because of the investigation of this happening, Luther can’t work until the investigation is finalized. He is asked back. Soon we learn he is in a difficult relationship with his wife Zoe and that, on the first case back, he starts getting a strange connection with the supposed suspect. The question we all ask is, why would you let him work as a detective, when you know all this? Well, because he is the best on the job.
The red thread in this first season, is the connection between Luther and Alice, the woman we meet in the first episode. Her parents were brutally murdered and Luther knows she did it. But there is no evidence and Alice walks away. but because Alice is Luther’s equal when it comes to intelligence, the two form an unlikely bond.
I’m glad the show doesn’t fully focus on that. This is the only part that you can only understand if you see all episode. The rest can also be watch separately. Each episode focuses on a new case.
I’m definitely going to continue this show. Not only because I simply love detective stories. Idris Elba is magnificent and created an interesting character I want to explore more.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 122: Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, B.J. Novak, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Rachel Griffiths, Bradley Whitford, Ruth Wilson, Kathy Baker

Description: Author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Review: Walt Disney tried to get the movie rights for the book “Mary Poppins” for twenty years. Author P.L. Travers was afraid that Disney would turn her beloved book into a musical. When she has money trouble and might lose her house, she decides to meet with Walt Disney in Los Angeles. But the happy Walt and the unfriendly Pamela are like water and fire.
To make a film based on a story which outcome we all know, is always a risk. The question in “Saving Mr. Banks” is if the movie “Mary Poppins” will ever be made. We all know that it was a huge success, but not a lot of people know how this movie actually happened. Travers didn’t want to give her character to anyone. Why she has such a special bond with the nanny is something we learn along the way. We see how a young Travers grow up in rough Australia. Her father, a beautiful role by Colin Farrell, is a loving man but he has a drinking problem. Their relationship is very strong, but a tragedy makes sure Travers will always be traumatized.
A movie about Disney, made by Disney. It surprisingly has a lot of self-mockery. For instance the scene where P.L. Travers arrives at her hotel in L.A. which is filled with enormous stuffed Disney animals. Emma Thompson has perfect comedic timing.
We all know that Thompson is a great actress, but in “Saving Mr. Banks” she really excels. She turns a rather unpleasant women into a women you love. Tom Hanks doesn’t look like Disney, but he brings a certain nuance to his role. Disney isn’t only a big kid that makes dreams come true, but also a businessman. Hanks does this very well. Colin Farrell plays a role like never before. I never saw Farell like this and I loved him in “Saving Mr. Banks”. Also Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman were great in their roles.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is a lovely film carried by a fantastic cast. Although we all know how it ends, how “Mary Poppins” was made is such a wonderful story. Humor and emotion are very close and Emma Thompson played one of her best roles of her career.

Rating: 4/ 5