'Marlowe' by Neil Jordan Review: Noir void of all soul

Every so often Hollywood feels the need to throw out some attempt at a genre that has long passed. These films are often bait that attempt to pull people in with an established style of filmmaking but riddled with relatively famous, large name actors that will ensure the elderly with their wallets come flocking for ticket sales. Often enough, these films are riddled with issues that make them incredibly weak experiences. Outside of the technology having shifted that played a huge part in the style, these films don't quite work with most actors that just don't suit the roles they're being cast for. Instead of it being the talent that fits the style, it's talent that will take any work but rarely manages to make a big enough name for themselves in any of those roles. The result of this is that these films are painfully forgettable, dragging on while not really saying anything of substance. Merely picking elements of greater films but doing them with less creativity and soul.

I felt like checking out something different yet again today, with a bit of a hiatus from watching films lately due to a stupidly chaotic schedule. I saw the poster for Marlowe and instantly knew what I was going to be getting myself into, but still willing to give it a chance and see how it stands on its own. Though to say it stands on its own is a stretch. Marlowe wasn't good, and the cast it has just aren't enough to keep you engaged in the story. Of which is written with older films in mind, though riddled with flaws set for the modern audience and Hollywood standard. And I can admit that some of its cast do in fact suit the environment; almost carrying the weak film forward and having you question just what they're doing in a film like this. Knowing they're better off elsewhere. I say this not wanting to ultimately seem like I'm completely ripping the film to pieces. Aware that it does have some strengths, but is still pretty terrible.

Marlowe

When you think of a noir film you often think of the 30s and 40s era of Hollywood filmmaking. The gritty and busy streets of a chaotic New York City, or the palm trees and hilly neighbourhoods of Los Angeles. Stories of luxury and actors, or stories of crime and deceit. These films are known for their filmmaking during a time of technological limitations. Where cameras had very little movement, and audio equipment was truly quite terrible in quality. These films were shot in small, boxed aspect ratios and on 35mm film stock, always in black-and-white. This genre being one of the most famous of all film and referenced in just about everything. Style, beautiful women and men with charisma, as well as stories with twists and subverted expectations. Ultimately leading to the mystery genre of the whole "who did it?" idea that followed. Before going into the negatives, I do want to mention the odd positive I noticed within the film: following the idea of the film noir genre, Marlowe takes a lot of inspiration from the greats in the style of directing. This means some interesting cinematic perspectives that you don't quite see anymore in regular films. Mostly a result of the fact that old film cameras sat above a heavy tripod with little movement available outside of the zoom in, zoom out, and slow pans.

This did set up a series of scenes and sequences in a creative and engaging manner. I found myself enjoying this part of the film and curious as to how else it might pull inspiration or mix things up, but it sort of began to fall flat as the film went on. A problem with this heavy use of older filmmaking techniques is the modern lens. Wide angle with a wide, very open aspect ratio. Old film noir films took advantage of depth within the frame as a result of limited space. Since wide perspectives were not an option, filmmakers opted for utilising the space in the background and foreground of a scene. It led to some very fun shots that are quite immersive, as your eyes move in and out of the frame in a way. Rather than just across a wide frame. Marlowe of course doesn't utilise a boxed aspect ratio, nor does it rely on tighter focal length lenses. So much of the magic is lost when attempting to pursue the film noir aesthetic.

Another thing is the lack of atmosphere to add to the scenes. Marlowe doesn't utilise ambience at all, so the atmosphere isn't really built or added to. It felt a bit empty and void of immersion to see this. Music and sound play a big part of these films, and Marlowe was quite weak in both. Especially with a modern script that focuses on modern dialogue with a dated accent. The two don't quite work together, with characters that are also written in a more modern manner. I found that I ended up hating all of the characters quite quickly due to this, especially as the film introduces this Hollywood filmmaking fourth-wall stuff that made everything seem a bit obnoxious. Again pulling from old classics which took these ideas and did them better. Sometimes you could even tell what the film was pulling inspiration from, and it made the film almost seem like a series of better ideas found elsewhere just remade and stitched together to make something similar.

Much of this is also found in the narrative, which tried to be your typical murder detective story. I won't say much more than that because I do feel it's quite easy to spoil. But I will say that our lead, Liam Neeson, just does not work one bit. Awfully distracting for the most part. And very bland as a protagonist. Jessica Lange, who many many recognise from American Horror Story, does suit this sort of period and acts quite well. With Danny Huston following in a similar fashion. But the rest of the cast? Well, I just couldn't see them as their characters. They all don't seem to belong, and a colour film noir film shot in digital format just doesn't help that one bit. And the sad, inevitable conclusion is that Marlowe ends up being bland. Void of soul as it pulls from its influences while also completely missing the point. And Hollywood insists on trying these big, relatively expensive creations every so often having never really managed to learn why those films worked in the first place. Attempting to follow in their steps but just not getting it.

I can't say I expected much more, I knew what I was getting into just from the poster alone. And while some actors did well and some did not, I think the film itself was just destined to fail. No one single change could have saved it. Perhaps, however, one day we might get someone, somewhere that has passion for the old 30s and 40s style of noir and does it justice. Though, we should realise that much of the greatness was just due to the time. Where technology was more challenging, and film was more simple. Simple stories. Simple actors. And atmosphere turned to eleven through a combination of it all. But it won't be Marlowe.

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