Mystery in the house
Starring: Glenn Close, Terrence Stamp, Max Irons, Stefanie Martini, Julian Sands, Gillian Anderson, Christina Hendricks, Christian McKay No straight alibis in this bent abode OK, so it has not been all that long since we had an Agatha Christie-penned murder mystery to sink our teeth into.
Nevertheless, while Crooked House boasts more of a home-brand cast than the luxury-label ensemble that rode the recent Christie cracker Murder on the Orient Express, it effortlessly matches that movie in all other departments. (Except maybe the sets and costume design, but that’s only due to a much smaller budget.)
Plotting-wise, you can show up fully expecting the usual long-haul labyrinth of deception, where almost everyone with a speaking part can be deemed a prime suspect until the final credits roll.
Max Irons stars as Charles Hayward, a 1940s private eye seconded to a British country estate to investigate the dodgy deceasing of an elderly shipping tycoon.
Charlie’s ex-girlfriend Sophia (Stephanie Martini) makes the introductions to the rest of her conniving clan, including, most prominently, a not-so-grieving widow (Christina Hendricks), a gun- toting grandma (Glenn Close) and an irksome heir apparent (Julian Sands).
It will pay to have your wits about you as the screenplay does its first lap around the mansion, for everyone involved in this convoluted case has a lot to say, and not all that much time to say it.
Thankfully, in addition to its fine collection of performances, Crooked House benefits strongly from the scripting nous of British scribe Julian Fellowes (creator of the hit TV series Downton Abbey), a man who knows how to make each and every colourful character justify their presence.