Marlowe (2023)
or what the 11th film adaptation of Philip Marlowe looks like
Plot: In late 1930's Bay City, a brooding, down on his luck detective is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress.
Directed by: Neil Jordan
Written by: William Monohan and Neil Jordan (based on the novel The Black-Eyed Blonde)
Cinematography by: Xavi Giménez
Studio: Parallel Films, Hills Productions, Davis Films
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
There we were. An empty theater on a cold February evening with my youngest brother and my father. We sat down to watch a movie that did not to seem to have any kind of advertising budget. There was no fanfare in the theater or in the mind of the general public. But we, the devoted noiristas that we are, were there because of the names Philip Marlowe and Liam Neeson. That was enough for us.
Philip Marlowe is, of course, one of the quintessential private eyes of literature. Novels like The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye cemented him as a classic detective. Chandler’s gumshoe has been portrayed by Dick Powell, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Montgomery, George Montgomery, James Garner, Robert Mitchum, Danny Glover, James Caan, and Powers Boothe. Liam Neeson is the latest iteration, and the first one on film since 1978. Naturally, I was curious. Professionally, I was obligated.
Marlowe is the first film we’re covering to be seen on the big screen! I’m a big believer in supporting movies I am interested in by purchasing a ticket and putting my butt in a seat, especially if they are noir tributes/homages/fan fictions. I hope some of you were able to get out and see it as well.
The plot is Chandler-esque. Clare Cavendish (Diane Kruger) is a married woman who wants Marlowe to find her young lover. As the investigation begins, Marlowe wonders if the guy is actually dead. Clare also has a powerful mother, played by Jessica Lange. She is quite interested in Clare’s life and wants updates on the investigation. Danny Huston plays a sleazy nightclub owner. Alan Cumming plays a corrupt executive. You do the math—there’s a lot going on. But it never feels like too much. They are all pieces to the puzzle.
The movie feels a bit loose, which may be a result of not being adapted from a Chandler novel or a remake of a prior Marlowe movie. Neeson isn’t doing a Bogart impersonation or stumbling around like Gould. He’s Liam Neeson, an older actor playing a dogged detective. The supporting case is fun as well: Diane Kruger as our femme fatale that ropes Marlowe into the mystery. Jessica Lange plays her mother, a faded Hollywood legend. Danny Huston, whose father directed The Maltese Falcon, runs a seedy club at the center of the action. Something I enjoyed about these characters is I spent most of the movie guessing who would be the one pulling the strings. Monohan’s screenplay keeps us on our toes.
I have to point out a flourish in the screenplay I enjoyed quite a bit. Early on, Marlowe roughs up some goons. And instead of showing him the next day as if nothing has happened, we seem him walking on a beach. He has his pants rolled up, his shoes off, and he’s walking along a shore at night. He reaches down and puts his hand in the water. The scene lasts maybe ten seconds but tells us quite a bit abour Marlowe. The violence of the evening takes its toll on him. Not only does he want to feel cold water on his hand, but he wants to relax. And what is more relaxing than walking on the beach? He has the wet sand between his toes and is thinking about whatever he wants. It’s almost as if he has to decompress or recharge before he continues his investigation.
The film is co-written and directed by Neil Jordan. You may know him from The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, and The Good Thief. He’s a a solid director with a good reputation. William Monhan, known for writing Kingdom of Heaven, The Tender Bar, and winning an Academy Aware for The Departed is the pen behind the latest Marlowe tale. It’s an adaptation of a novel from 2014 written by John Banville under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. Liam Neeson was attached to this film in 2017 and recruited Jordan to direct the film.
Did I have noir tinted glasses on while watching? You bet. But I trust this movie appealed to a smaller audience. I also trus that those who are interested will seek it out and find things to enjoy.
Smoking: 🚬🚬🚬 out of 🚬 🚬 🚬 🚬
Furniture broken because Liam Neeson used it in a fight: 🪑🪑🪑 out of 🪑🪑🪑🪑
Femme Fatale: 💃 💃 💃 out of 💃 💃 💃 💃
Trivia:
This is Liam Neeson’s 100th film.
In Liam Neesons 2014 movie "A Walk Among The Tombstones" Philip Marlowe was referenced several times by the kid TJ who was helping Neeson out in that movie. In that movie Neeson was a retired Cop turned Private Detective.
Liam Neeson and Neil Jordan previously collaborated in Michael Collins and Breakfast on Pluto.
Links of interest:
