One of my most anticipated films of the second part of this year, See How They Run is set in London in 1953. Agatha Christie’s play, The Mousetrap, has been a huge success and the film rights have sold. During the afterparty for the 100th show, Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), the prospective director of the film, is murdered. Experienced, world-weary, Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) arrive to investigate.
This is an utter delight that I watched with a huge grin on my face. Mark Chappell’s screenplay provides a lot of chuckles and the story is suitably twisting and knowing, with the identity of the killer unclear until the end. It is also very intelligently written. Real people from the original run of the play are included in the story, details of the play’s production become important to the plot, and increasingly the story in the film mirrors that of the play.
Sam Rockwell is perfectly cast, with his accent holding-up, and Ronan, who seemingly can turn her hand to any role, brilliant as the keen but impulsive sidekick. In the supporting cast, Pearl Chanda is impressive as Sheila Sim, Ruth Wilson acerbic as the producer of the play, and Tim Key a hoot as the police commissioner.
Director Tom George maintains a cracking pace, only let down by an unnecessary but thankfully short dream sequence. This is one whodunnit that will reward multiple viewings.
Rating: 9 out of 10