Marlowe (2023)

Set in 1939, a down on his luck detective Philip Marlowe (Liam Neeson) is hired to find the lover (Francois Arnaud) of the daughter (Diane Kruger) of an ex-movie star (Jessica Lange). What seems at first like a simple missing person case soon turns into a bewildering tale of murder, kidnapping and drugs. Based on the novel THE BLACK EYED BLONDE by John Banville and directed by Neil Jordan (THE CRYING GAME). This neo noir crime thriller is a misfire. Although the period costumes and music are spot on, the fictional Bay City locale appears to be Los Angeles but the exteriors were filmed in Spain and the interiors filmed in Ireland so it has an unreal atmosphere to it. Neeson looks tired and worn as the part requires but he lacks the cynical tough guy persona that a Bogart or Mitchum (who both have played Philip Marlowe) would have brought to the role. Kruger makes for a suitable femme fatale but the film is stolen by Lange as her movie star mother. As a fan of mysteries, I enjoyed it on that level but as a film noir it's a failure. Entertaining but a major disappointment. With Alan Cumming, Danny Huston, Colm Meaney and Daniela Melchior.