A Kind of Murder (2016)

Directed by: Andy Goddard | 92 minutes | crime, drama, thriller | Actors: Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Haley Bennett, Eddie Marsan, Vincent Kartheiser, Jon Osbeck, Radek Lord, Christine Dye, Kelly Mengelkoch, Corrie Danieley, Ian Short, Ken Strunk, Jennifer Enskat, Buz Davis, Barry Mulholland, Richard Hagerman, Michael Hall

A writer whose work often inspired films is thriller author Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995). Her first book, ‘Strangers on a Train’ from 1950, was filmed three times, including masterfully by the Master of Suspense himself Sir Alfred Hitchcock in 1951. Highsmith also created the character Tom Ripley, who appeared in five of her twenty-two novels emerged. ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ was first filmed in 1960 (starring Alain Delon) and 39 years later Matt Damon played the unscrupulous but stylish psychopath Tom Ripley. John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper and Barry Pepper have also played the part. Todd Haynes’ stylish lesbian drama ‘Carol’ (2015), starring Cate Blanchett in the title role, is also based on a story by Patricia Highsmith. Less well known is Highsmith’s 1954 novel ‘The Blunderer’; except for a relatively obscure French film adaptation from 1963 (‘Le meurtrier’), this story has never before been translated to the silver screen. Until British director Andy Goddard, best known for TV work, decided to adapt ‘The Blunderer’ as ‘A Kind of Murder’ (2016) and gave the film a stylish look that breathes the atmosphere of the classic film noirs from the forties and fifties. Sadly, Patrick Wilson isn’t Humphrey Bogart or Joseph Cotten – and that’s not the only flaw…

The sweet-natured architect Walter Stackhouse (Patrick Wilson) seems to have it right. He is married to the beautiful Clara (Jessica Biel), lives in a beautiful home of his own design and in his spare time he enjoys his hobby: writing detective stories. But appearances are deceiving; Although they have only been married for a few years, Walter increasingly dislikes his neurotic, affected wife. When he talks a little too long with the beautiful singer Ellie Briess (Haley Bennett) during a party, Clara decides to fill herself with pills with a great sense of drama. That way she hopes to keep Walter closer, but in reality she’s driving him straight into Ellie’s arms. He decides to officially file for divorce. But then Clara is found dead. She fell off a cliff while on the bus to her dying mother. Or was she pushed? The police investigation initially focuses on Walter, who piles one blunder after another and makes himself (unnecessarily?) suspicious. He admits, for example, that he chased the bus his wife was in, to the stop where she died. In addition, his unhealthy fascination with a recent murder case is striking. Bookseller Marty Kimmel (Eddie Marsan) is suspected of having strangled his wife, in the exact same location where Clara Stackhouse was found. Why did Walter Kimmel go to visit? Overzealous, hyper-ambitious homicide detective Laurence Corby (Vincent Kartheiser) is convinced that both Stackhouse and Kimmel are guilty and have more to do with each other than both are willing to admit. He sinks his teeth into the matter and won’t let go.

To start with the most eye-catching aspect: ‘A Kind of Murder’ looks like it would be easy to get through. The classic film noirs have been carefully considered for the right look & feel and an attempt has been made to imitate the sixties, in which the story takes place, in detail. Clothes, sets, decors are perfectly fine. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the story (the screenplay is by Susan Boyd). While the film is captivating enough to keep watching (especially thanks to that atmosphere described above), the story doesn’t really have a clear direction. Sometimes the theme of the ‘wrong man’ seems to surface (Stackhouse sees his safe world collapse after he becomes involved with femme fatale Ellie), other times it seems to revolve around whether Stackhouse and Kimmel are guilty ( where we do not get a conclusive answer). All that wandering does not help the persuasiveness of the story. On top of that, we’re stuck with Patrick Wilson, whose face is far too open to make us question his motives (in 2005’s ‘Hard Candy’ he also failed to convince as an online predator and was outplayed by his victim Elliot). Page). Every shred of doubt about Walter’s guilt is forced upon us by Corby, who could have had psychopathic traits, but is rendered colorless by Vincent Kartheiser. Much more interesting is Eddie Marsan as Kimmel, a mysterious figure who opposes all appearances but still seems to get away with murder. Marsan is one of those actors who doesn’t really need to say anything; his look and body language speak volumes. The ladies in this film come off a bit thin, although it might be nice to mention that Haley Bennett sings her nightclub songs herself.

On paper ‘A Kind of Murder’ has a nice cast, but in practice the actors – except for Marsan – are not quite at home in the roles they play. Added to this is the drifting scenario, which does not want to take a clear direction. Then you can dress up the film as beautifully, but that doesn’t hide the shortcomings. Andy Goddard tried hard, but there could have been so much more. It’s not about Highsmith’s story, that’s intriguing enough. Now for another good scenario…