This is an odd choice for a date movie; it’s certainly dark enough for my tastes, but my wife usually runs towards the lighter and less intense. But it has Jude Law in it, which made it something she wanted to watch. Anyhow: I saw the original Sleuth a year or two ago and I really enjoyed it; I liked how the the light touch of comedy mixed with the deadly serious tone, and you can’t really argue with a cast of Lawrence Olivier and Michael Caine. Caine stars in this version, too, in the role that Olivier originated, and Jude Law takes Caine’s old part. I wanted to see what Caine’s take would be, forty years later. But despite surface similarities, the Sleuth of 2007 is much different than its 70s cousin.

Everyone involved with the project, particularly director Kenneth Branagh and writer Harold Pinter, want to emphasize that it’s a re-imagining, not a simple re-make. And it’s very obvious from the get-go: Pinter’s dialogue has a lot of wit but is very clipped, and the set is dressed very cool and modern. It’s a much darker, sleeker, more streamlined film – running at 90 minutes, a full hour less than the ‘72 version. And while it’s interesting to see what Pinter decided to change with the script, the real draw is watching Caine and Law deliver the goods. They put in two really good performances.

But in my opinion, that’s not just the real draw. It’s the only draw. The script, which does have some nice touches, doesn’t hold up to the original. The plot falls a little flat at times, and the style of dialogue can get a little overwhelming (yes, I understand Pinter is a reknowned writer but he’s an acquired taste). Branagh’s theatrical touches are nice but like a lot of the film, purely cosmetic. They could have really worked well with a tighter production, but it’s just extra icing on a cake that’s mostly icing anyhow. I was glad I’d seen the original so I could compare the two, otherwise I think my viewing experience would have been far less enjoyable. Worth watching for the performances but sadly, if you’ve seen the original I think you’re in for many unfavourable comparisons.