I have read A LOT of noir crime novels. But although Chandler is a major figure and among the first to write what was at the root of the genre, I never liked his stories. After trying two of his most praised books, I trew in the towel.
Since I had noticed that I could really enjoy some novels I was unable to read - the writing, dialogues, or something else like the atmosphere - in some adaptations for the screen, I gave this one a chance.
The acting is great, Mitchum feels authentic as Philip Marlowe; Charlotte Rampling is both beautiful and very good; the Madam is larger than life as well as "Mountain Man King Kong".
The indeed are in 1940's America, it is undeniable and very good.
But I can't fathom the plot - where is this going exactly? What am I supposed to have understood already, when yet another chatacter is killed, which is linked to a previous one and relates - well it seems so - to that other one who is linked to that previous one... But how exactly? Uh... What just happened and what does it mean?
Duh...
Although there is a lot of good...acting, decors, filming... I feel annoyed by the fact I wonder if I am dumb for being so confused...
I guess I PROBABLY just don't like Chandler. I can't find a string to follow!
This is one of these movies you persist watching, thinking : "It will be clear soon".... But it is not.
There are still 45 minutes to watch when I throw in the towel. I've had enough.
I could go on watching just for the good acting. And too bad if I still don't get it in the end... Like watching a beautiful landscape.
But would you?...
Since I had noticed that I could really enjoy some novels I was unable to read - the writing, dialogues, or something else like the atmosphere - in some adaptations for the screen, I gave this one a chance.
The acting is great, Mitchum feels authentic as Philip Marlowe; Charlotte Rampling is both beautiful and very good; the Madam is larger than life as well as "Mountain Man King Kong".
The indeed are in 1940's America, it is undeniable and very good.
But I can't fathom the plot - where is this going exactly? What am I supposed to have understood already, when yet another chatacter is killed, which is linked to a previous one and relates - well it seems so - to that other one who is linked to that previous one... But how exactly? Uh... What just happened and what does it mean?
Duh...
Although there is a lot of good...acting, decors, filming... I feel annoyed by the fact I wonder if I am dumb for being so confused...
I guess I PROBABLY just don't like Chandler. I can't find a string to follow!
This is one of these movies you persist watching, thinking : "It will be clear soon".... But it is not.
There are still 45 minutes to watch when I throw in the towel. I've had enough.
I could go on watching just for the good acting. And too bad if I still don't get it in the end... Like watching a beautiful landscape.
But would you?...