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Gifts from The Morning Star
Film round-up: September 8, 2022
The Star's critic Maria Duarte reviews See How They Run, Both Sides of the Blade, The Score and Bodies Bodies Bodies
Saoirse Ronan plays Constable Stalker in See How They Run [IMDb]

See How They Run (12A)
Directed by Tom George

★★★★

SET in London’s West End in 1953, this whodunnit-within-a-whodunnit thriller featuring an all-star cast is a joyous, slick and stylishly clever romp and an impressive directorial debut feature by Tom George.

It centres on plans to make a film version of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap — helmed by arrogant American director Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), who has been blacklisted by Hollywood for being a communist — which are thwarted when he comes a cropper during the play’s 100th performance party.

The jaded Scotland Yard detective Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell with a dubious British accent) and an annoyingly enthusiastic newbie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan, who steals the film) are called in to investigate.

Everyone’s a suspect including the show’s star performers Dickie Attenborough (Harris Dickinson) and his wife Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda), whose real life counterparts starred in the first run of the smash-hit play.

With a sparkling razor-sharp witty script by Mark Chappell, brought to life by stunning performances, George delivers a fun and deliciously smart murder mystery about The Mousetrap without breaking Agatha Christie’s contract clause which states there can be no film adaptation until six months after its theatrical run ends.

Since it is still running after almost 70 years, this film is genius.

In cinemas

Both Sides of the Blade (15)
Directed by Claire Denis
★★★


The Score (15)
Directed by Malachi Smyth
★★

Bodies Bodies Bodies (15)
Directed by Halina Reijn
★★

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
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