See How They Run is a quirky little whodunit for fans of the throwback days of murder mysteries. More humor than gore, and suspects around every corner. So get out your sleuthing cap and magnifying glass; it’s time to solve this crime.
Now available everywhere on digital!
Synopsis: Welcome to the greatest murder ever staged! It is the West End of London in the 1950s, and plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play have come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. When world-weary Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his eager rookie sidekick, Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan), take on the case, the two find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid theatre underground. The more they investigate the mysterious homicide, the more they realize that they do so at their own peril.
The film is set in London in 1953. It was a time when every nation was fascinated with American films. This story has a lot of those pop culture references and nods to real life movies and actors. Agatha Christie is always a popular choice as well when it comes to a plot. This one is as close to The Mouse Trap as cinema has come over the years. I do not think the intent was to take the Death on the Nile or Murder on the Orient Express approach, but instead to steep the story in that world.
Saoirse Ronan is a fantastic young character actress with memorable roles in Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women. She is fun to watch in this one as she dons a London copper uniform to assist the lead inspector. Constable Stalker is new to the force and full of fire and an inquisitive nature. This makes her endearing from the start. I have never thought of Ronan as a comedic actress. True many of her roles have a whimsical nature and she always has a little twinkle in her eye. Even in this one I would not call her role slapstick. Just quirky, lighthearted, and a joy to watch
Inspector Stoppard is played by Sam Rockwell. I have been a fan of his since films like The Green Mile and Moon. His interpretation and performance of this character was different than I wanted or expected. Like most inspectors Stoppard is quiet, astute, and always watching. Rockwell might be trying to balance his performance with Ronan too much. Often his delivery of lines is sluggish and indecipherable. Stoppard takes on the green Stalker amiably, teaching her the ways. But there is very little emotion which makes it come off as boring. Sorry Sam.
The supporting cast is spot on and includes the return of Adrian Brody. I say return as I do not feel like I have seen him in many years doing more than a one or two scene performance. I thought that would be the same here, but we do get a nice dose of his acting.
The set design and costumes make it a winner for me too. I love the look and styling of 1950s London, and the world of theater. Both arenas show off in this one. That combined with nods to Christie and the world of murder mysteries makes this one a very enjoyable watch at home.
SEE HOW THEY RUN is rated PG-13 for some violence/bloody images and a sexual reference. It is an adult film only in the nature of storytelling and characters. Safe for younger teens but probably not their spot of tea. For the rest of us it is a nice cuppa indeed.
Bonus Features*
- See How They Run Behind The Curtain – Hear from the talented filmmakers and cast as they pull back the curtain on the filmmaking process which had its unique challenges and rewards. Take a look at the special access to famous locations as well as the care and detail used to recreate them.
*Bonus features vary by product and retailer #SeeHowTheyRun
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