See How They Run

Q. When is too much split screen too much?

A. See How They Run.

I was so looking forward to this that i can't help feeling a tinge of disappointment. Towards the end of See How They Run, i was feeling almost nauseous with the use of split screen. It's every 5 minutes, and i'm not joking.

The movie thinks it's a lot cleverer than it is (telling us how the movie will end, the clever wink winks all the time). Some of the humour is great, mostly involving Saoirse Ronan who shows she's gifted in physical comedy and slapstick as well as everything else she puts her mind too.

The movie, for a whodunit, fails to fill the story with credible suspects and towards the end i had mostly lost interest in who the murderer was even going to be. Adrien Brody is great for the amount of screen time he receives but whenever he, Sam Rockwell or Saoirse aren't on screen, the movie drags.

Tom George's direction isn't the best and it makes me wonder what the film could look like if in better hands. Outside of the split screen issues, quick cuts are another constant but just makes me think of better directors and the lifting Tom George is taking from superior movies.

I went in to this hoping for another Knives Out but sadly this is nowhere near it.

It may not be the smartest or funniest whodunit out there but See How They Run is still a really fun murder mystery that succeeds at creating an engaging mystery and solid gag rate bolstered by some surprisingly dark and mature themes.

Sam Rockwell gives a great lead performance as the calm amongst a very chaotic storm of over the top performances with an impressively strong accent that never slips. Saorsie Ronan is the standout though with fantastic comedic timing and an always lovable presence.

Tom George's direction is really good, thankfully not too focused on homaging Wes Anderson and instead delivering a stylish film with some snappy editing and nice split screen. The music by Daniel Pemberton is good, matching the films quirky nature.

I don't know if it's the cozy cinematography, the many tracking shots, or two actors that have been in a lot of his films, but this movie has a real whimsical, wholesome, Wes Anderson vibe to it and I liked it. Saoirse Ronan is incredibly cute and comical in her role as a apprentice cop learning the trade and trying to solve the mystery. Her puns in the beginning are pretty funny, and she just has such a sweet aura throughout that weirdly fits with the movie.

The film moves at a leisurely pace, almost like a British afternoon tea on a rainy day. Or drinking hot cocoa while watching an Agatha Christie murder mystery as the snow falls outside. That kind of vibe, and I'm here for it.

Oh, and we get to see Adrien Brody in a Grand Budapest Hotel-like rich jerk role, and it's pretty great.

A murder-mystery with Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan as the investigators. Who could resist such a premise? Not me. Since watching it I've heard it described as a very 'Wes Anderson' type film. I'm glad I didn't hear that before going in because I can't stand Anderson's films. I did quite enjoy this one though, so it would've been a false warning.

The chemistry between Ronan and Rockwell is what sells this. They nail it. I could watch these two on screen for a hundred more movies. The humour in the film is very clever. It may not make you laugh out loud all too often, but it will certainly bring a smile to your face.

The actual whodunit mystery itself is good, without being mind-blowing. It suffices in keeping the audience interested and curious while also giving the lead characters plenty of room to do their thing. This was a good one. 7/10.

It's no wonder, but for me it was worth the time watching. The film is reasonably entertaining, has a cool vibe, and a great performance by Saoirse Ronan, as usual.

It's a relatively short movie, around 1h30, it goes by quickly, it doesn't take much time and it serves as a pastime if you don't have anything else interesting to see.

Despite being a "whodunit", the mystery surrounding the killer itself does not hold much attention, the script is silly and the solution to the case is not impactful at all, what really counts in the film is the fun atmosphere and the actors' performance. Typical movie that in 6 months you won't even remember it properly.

6 out of 10.