Description:
Albert Finney stars as a bingo-caller who, bored with his mundane existence, takes out a newspaper ad offering his services as a private detective. In no time at all, Finney finds himself involved in a series of plots and counter plots.
This little British gem is a must-have for all fans of hard-boiled detective films--and their spoofs. Gumshoe actually succeeds at being both--a sendup of classic '40s Raymond Chandler masterpieces, but particularly cheeky in that singular English manner. Albert Finney plays a struggling comedian who, on a lark, decides to place an ad as a private eye ("no divorce work"). Finney affec
Albert Finney stars as a bingo-caller who, bored with his mundane existence, takes out a newspaper ad offering his services as a private detective. In no time at all, Finney finds himself involved in a series of plots and counter plots.
This little British gem is a must-have for all fans of hard-boiled detective films--and their spoofs. Gumshoe actually succeeds at being both--a sendup of classic '40s Raymond Chandler masterpieces, but particularly cheeky in that singular English manner. Albert Finney plays a struggling comedian who, on a lark, decides to place an ad as a private eye ("no divorce work"). Finney affects just about every classic tic of the genre: the side-of-the-mouth delivery, the world-weary outlook ("It was the kind of a place where you needed a black tie just to take a bath"), the quip-for-quip dialogue. But then he’s sucked right into the world he’s been dancing around, complete with murder plots, drug smuggling, blowzy dames, and too-close calls. Finney’s believable as a real private dick, and is also subtly hilarious sending up the genre. The film was directed by a young Stephen Frears, and his deft touch keeps the sometimes out-there plot moving forward confidently. And Andrew Lloyd Webber provides the memorable score, which film music fans will recognize as an homage to the theme of the all-time great film noir masterpiece Sunset Boulevard. Sam Spade would be proud. --A.T. Hurley
Stills from Gumshoe (Click for larger image)
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Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Release date: 3 February 2009
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 0043396285750 UPC: 043396285750
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