Branagh makes a decent directing effort with Sleuth

Sleuth

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Cast: Jude Law, Michael Caine, Harold Pinter

Cert: 15

It's a Branagh film so expect the critical backlash! It's not his best film, to be sure, but he does make a decent job of what started as a stage play and became a 1972 film. What doesn't help is the fact that Law has a lead role.

Law has yet to underline his pretty boy looks with a strong acting ability and here, as the mysterious man who calls on a writer (Caine) to talk him into giving his wife a divorce, he doesn't quite deliver the necessary depth, cunning or mystery required. We are never quite sure what exactly he is up to.

Since co-star Pinter wrote the adaptation the dialogue is sharp and the plot, strong out beyond its limit as it is, is passable. It's an above average film.

***