Marlowe Returns

Sky's production of Marlowe describes itself as a 'neo noir'. There is a problem - it's not nearly noir enough. Yes you can cavil at the profanities littered across the dialogue and can justly complain that it lacks (doesn't everything) Chandleresque sharpness. You can also take issue with Liam Neeson's world-weary portrayal of the eponymous detective, although I had no problem with that. No, in my highly inexpert opinion, this would have been a far better picture if it had been shot in a gloomy monochrome. The Californian sunlight is simply too sharp and the film is at its best when it moves into the night. This is a miss - nowhere near the chiaroscuro bravado of, say, The Big Heat or Touch of Evil. An opportunity misssed but not unwatchable. 59/100.