Review of Sleuth (2007) by J M — 24 Jan 2009

The problem with this movie is that it has a premise created for the sole purpose of being exploited by a witty playwright. The screenwriter of this version, Harold Pinter, is an absurdist playwright. The problem is obvious.

Absurdism is not the greatest of theatre genres, but it has produced some genuinely great plays. That this is a fairly good absurdist play is not necessarily to say that it is a good play, or a good movie.

But once you understand that this movie is going to be dark, bizarre, impersonal, even cruel, and certainly anything but witty, then you might have a shot at enjoying it. I did, somewhat. But if not, stay away.