Possibly the year's most unexpected treat; a visually gorgeous and
hugely imaginative screen version of Peter Ackroyd's novel, "The
Limehouse Golem" is only director Juan Carlos Medina's second film and
is something of a triumph in all departments, mixing as it does fact
with fiction to brilliant effect. Told almost entirely in flashback, it
tells two parallel stories as Inspector Kildare, (a superb Bill Nighy),
investigates the murders perpetrated by the Jack-the-Ripper like
'Limehouse Golem' while attempting to prove the innocence of Lizzie
Cree, (the excellent Olivia Cooke), on trial for the murder of her
husband who also happened to be one of the suspects in the Golem
murders. Other suspects include Karl Marx and the Music Hall comic Dan Leno, (Douglas Booth).
Of
course, the real stars of the picture are Cinematographer Simon Dennis
and Production Designer Grant Montgomery who give the film its
distinctive look, (like the best Hammer movies and then some), while
Medina milks it for all its worth, helped by his very talented cast and
such little throwaway touches as making, not only Inspector Kildare gay
but also his constable as well, (the always excellent Daniel Mays).
Obviously aimed at the multiplex but maybe just a little too smart for
mass consumption.
Of
course, the real stars of the picture are Cinematographer Simon Dennis
and Production Designer Grant Montgomery who give the film its
distinctive look, (like the best Hammer movies and then some), while
Medina milks it for all its worth, helped by his very talented cast and
such little throwaway touches as making, not only Inspector Kildare gay
but also his constable as well, (the always excellent Daniel Mays).
Obviously aimed at the multiplex but maybe just a little too smart for
mass consumption.
No comments:
Post a Comment