Review of A Perfect Murder (1998) by Josep P — 01 Jul 2009

One thing I really appreciate about remakes/retakes/classic-inspired films like this, is that in retelling the older story, they're able to strip away many of the older stereotypes many filmmakers (knowingly or unknowingly) perpetuated over the years. While it is without a doubt that I can say that Grace Kelly's performance as the unfaithful wife in "Dial M for Murder" was breathtaking, the role that was written for her was a rather weak one. While Paltrow doesn't quite meet Kelly's performance, the role she was given was that of a much stronger woman.

The cast is pretty good; the ending is decent, but I suppose it pales in comparison to the original. Then again, perhaps it's underwhelming because we already know the twist from having seen the original. Quite the chicken-egg problem.

At any rate, this is a good thriller. All of the performances are good, the direction is elegant (can't live up to Hitchcock's; but few could), and while the placing of turning points in the plot tend to interrupt the film's flow, it isn't intolerable. All in all worth a look, especially if you're a fan of M for Murder.