Review of The Riddle (2007) by Private U — 11 Feb 2008

An excellent attempt by director Brendan Foley to a create a film that covers just about every genre - murder/mystery, action, comedy, romance - and jam-packed with a superb cast he just about pulls it off.

Ex-football thug Vinne Jones portrays a hardnosed journalist eager to uncover a suspicious murder that seems to involve a local property empire and a famous politician. Thrown into the mix is "The Riddle" an unpublished Charles Dickens manuscript that's found in a pub cellar, as the film flows effortlessly between modern day and the 1800's with both stories unfold simultaneously.

Usually films with a two-fold narrative become confusing, but even with numerous twists and subplots there is great cohesion and flow. The characters may not have mass appeal - there are no drunken pirates, green ogres or cars that turn into giant machines.

What you have instead are exceptional characters & fascinating relationships that leave you wanting more at the end. The pace was questionable at times - although there were no distinct lulls that I can recall, the film was never intense or rivetting.

But that is a minor criticism in what was a very ambitious and successful effort.