Sleuth

       This is another movie that I read the script for before watching. I have always been a huge fan of mysteries. In elementary school, I was obsessed, and I still enjoy reading books or watching movies with a mystery theme. When I first read the title “Sleuth,” I pictured a huge slimy slug. Why? I’m not sure. So when I began reading, I was thrilled that this was more of a dynamic plot with people, not creepy creatures.

            I am personally a fan of the British series “Sherlock,” with Benedict Cumberbatch, so as I began reading, my imagination almost combined these two stories. I pictured Andrew as a man in his mid-50s, a wealthy writer, cocky in a cool yet arrogant way. I pictured his house as a nice apartment-like flat in London; one where a prestigious writer might live while home from his travels. The miscellaneous items and trinkets around his house I pictured as items he had picked up while traveling the world. I imagined rustic, vintage globes and puzzles, all that scream culture, and countless books lying around, spilling out of bookcases and lining antique coffee tables.  Although married, the house appeared to be his more than anyone- like a bachelor pad.

            When picturing Milo, I saw a dark tanned skin, thick brown hair, deep brown eyes and very fit young man. I imagined that he was a hard-working man and you could tell by just looking at him, yet he had a soft, sensitive side. When he arrived to visit Andrew, I pictured him being scared, and trying to pretend that nothing was out of the ordinary, all while observing Wyke’s items with wild dreams of other worlds.

            As the dialog picked up, I was literally shocked when Andrew flat asked Milo about their affair. What was even more shocking was that it was true! Then the way that Milo talked about Marguerite made me view him as a naïve young boy in the ways of love.  I instantly felt bad for Marguerite, poor woman married to  a man who didn’t care about her one way of the other, but only kept her around for appearances; a woman cheated out of “love” so she found it in the arms of another. The more the men spoke, the more intrigued I became.

            The discussion changed from the affair to the set up of Milo “robbing” Andrew rather quickly. I was in the back of my mind begging Milo to not do it! “Don’t fall for it!” I wanted to scream. But, the more Andrew kept talking, the more I couldn’t tell if this was a set up or not. It did sound legitimate, maybe he really didn’t want any trouble, and being a writer called for such an imagination. But the vision I had of Andrew made me not trust this elaborate plan. When Andrew turned on Milo, I was disappointed that I had believed him, and that obviously Milo let down his guard as well. Yet, even more than that, I was terrified for what would happen to Milo. Even more so when he was shot! I couldn’t believe it! I was reading while my roommate was in the room, I couldn’t help but to scream and tell her what had happened. I had to but the script down for a few minutes and regroup.

            The second half was equally as intriguing. I wondered how Andrew would wiggle his way out of killing Milo. I was sad with Milo’s fate, but I had a feeling Andrew, being that he was a master of writing about murders, would get away with it. As Inspector Doppler kept questioning Andrew though, I began to question the whole story. All of his evidence and questions all seemed to frame Andrew perfectly! The more evidence that was found, the more frantic Andrew became. I literally thought that possibly, Andrew was crazy! I have to admit that I wanted his story to be true, about him not killing Milo, but using an extreme scare tactic; but at the rate the Inspector was going, it just didn’t seem likely. I thought for sure the ending would be one where Andrew had multiple personalities or was clinically insane and honestly didn’t remember him killing Milo.  When Inspector Doppler revealed who he was, in a riddle no less, I was ecstatic! I didn’t see that coming at all.

            Unfortunately it didn’t stop there. Their final conversation left me feeling multiple ways and also left a few questions. I was proud of my naïve Milo for pulling off such a trick, but made me wonder if he was a hot-blooded man who lived for revenge. It also made me almost sad for Andrew. He realized that he would actually be alone, his wife didn’t want to stay with him. He couldn’t even win at his own game of trickery and the way he begged Milo to stay with him was sad. Although this man had everything, he was still so lonely and had no one. Like I said though, I had some questions arise. I wondered if he wanted Milo there as a equal to his mental ‘superiority,’ or was a companion? And what did Milo expect from doing this? Just to go along on different paths as if nothing had ever happened, all while taking Marguerite away from her husband?

            But the ending truly made me sad. I wanted to see Milo live! I didn’t want him to halfway win against Andrew. Also, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to Andrew, would he get arrested for murder? And what would Marguerite do? Even though the story didn’t end exactly how I wanted it, I absolutely loved the script. It was a page flipper; exciting and devious. It was actually probably one of my favorites from the whole semester.  I would read this again and probably recommend others to read it as well.

                  So as I wrote before, I loved reading Sleuth and enjoyed so much how suspenseful it was. I was looking forward to watching the film in class. I was even more excited when I saw Michael Caine would be in the movie, although he didn’t fit my description of Milo at all. As the movie began, I began to realize everything I pictured was entirely different.

            I didn’t piece together that this play had anything to do with the ranking system that traditional English people still follow today. When seeing the elaborate and beautiful house Andrew Wyke lived in, it made sense what we were dealing with. The maze in the front of his house was super over the top, but also a great opening scene for the film. That is definitely something I could see a wealthy old-money type person having at their home. I also liked it that you heard him working on his story while Milo had to search for him. A maze would be something that Milo wouldn’t have typically encountered.

            I loved Andrew right away. He was showy and proud; Laurence Olivier was fantastic and made Andrew someone you loved and hated all at the same time. As they went into and through the house, the items that Andrew had collected and had all through the house were creepy to me. I hate that kind of stuff, dolls and singing robots, so I hated his house all together and thought that those items, along with the rest of the décor seem so cold. Then I realized, that was exactly the point.  The robotic man that Andrew had displayed was also terrifying, not at all what I had pictured.

 I did however like how Michael Caine portrayed Milo. Although he wasn’t the naïve and exotic man I pictured, he showcased just how hard it is to come into a new culture of people who don’t find you worthy. He was very proper and well-dressed, yet was looked upon as an outcast still. He was still naïve, but in different way then I imagined. He wanted to trust Andrew, and that became very clear when he agreed to the set up robbery.

It all seemed so theatrical, the robbery. Everything that Andrew suggested was way over the top. I grasped that while reading, but when seeing it portrayed, I was more disappointed in Milo agreeing to do it. The plan was so flawed! I do suppose though, since I had read the script and I knew what was going on, that too tainted my view. I was very excited to see how Milo would get his revenge and how Andrew would react to it.

            When Doppler arrived, I have to say I was disappointed. It was so obvious to me that Doppler was a disguised Milo. Did they do this on purpose? And if that was the case, WHY! Reading it, I thought Andrew was in huge trouble, my heart pounded while Doppler investigated. I thought they could have done a better job in that regard. At the same time though, I did like the mannerisms Caine gave him. He made me laugh and I looked forward to the reveal.  It was also almost “fun,” for a lack of a better word, to see their roles being reversed. Here a prestigious man, Andrew, went from tormenting a “commoner,” to becoming a flustered wreck, subject to the “unworthy” man who turns out to be quite clever. Them running through the house was kind of cool and I liked seeing Milo in such a strong position.

            Overall, the movie was pretty great. It wasn’t much like I had pictured, but I really liked how it was made. It was also exciting to watch people around me react to the story. That made it almost more exciting to watch for me. I couldn’t wait for them to figure out what was going on. The movie had a great amount of suspense and comedy. I’m still sad that Milo had to die at the end, but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes! I would definitely recommend this film, and script, to anyone!