Neil Jordan’s latest would like to have Taken star Liam Neeson in strong, brooding form as Raymond Chandler’s famous fictional detective.
But, Marlowe too often flounders in 1939 Los Angeles in trying to espouse interest from an adaptation of the 2014 now ‘Black-Eyed Blonde’ from John Banville.
Neeson’s down-on-his-luck Philip Marlowe is described as arcane and a loner but just isn’t able togged into what Jordan is trying to say about a laconic type with a certain skillset. Or is he just to detached from what The Good Thief director has produced from the page with The Departed scenarist William Monahan.
Plenty of illicit shady folks are around as a film studio prop guy (Francois Arnaud) has gone astray. The glamorous Clare (Diane Kruger of Troy) turns up as the guy’s lover and Jessica Lange also appears as the investigation doesn’t turn u[ something vaster than expected.
If there’s something attractive along the lines of Chinatown or The Big Sleep from spit polish in the period detail and natty attire what hardens on screen level Neeson taken aback in classic film noir farrago fashion.