The Riddle (2007)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Brendan Foley

Writer:

Brendan Foley (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A journalist investigates a series of murders that follows the discovery of an unpublished novel by Charles Dickens in the cellar of an old Thames-side-pub. Gradually he becomes obsessed with unraveling a century-old murder in the pages of the manuscript. Only when he has done so, with the help of a mysterious beach-combing tramp who stalks the Thames foreshore, is he able to solve the modern murders.

Cast

Vinnie Jones	...	Mike Sullivan
Derek Jacobi	...	The Tramp / Charles Dickens
Julie Cox	...	Kate Merrill
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Roberta Elliot
Jason Flemyng	...	Don Roberts CEO
P.H. Moriarty	...	D.I. Willis / Constable Frederick (as P H Moriarty)
Mel Smith	...	Professor Cranshaw
Vera Day	...	Sadie Miller
Mark Asante	...	Dwayne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matt Bailey	...	Lab Technician
Daniel Bartlett	...	Rower
Vincent Bishop	...	Interview Room PC (as Vince Bishop)
Barbara Edwards	...	Receptionist
'Long Bob' Elvin	...	Harry the Hat
John Enright	...	Arresting PC
Elly Fairman	...	Veronica Miller (as Ellie Fairman)
Michael Fenton Stevens	...	Alistair Forsyth M.P.
Shelly Goldstein	...	Mrs. Maud Skenshal
Sandy Hill	...	Maid
Gareth Hunt	...	Roy McBride
Scott James	...	Kev
Ted James	...	Baby Jimmy daCosta
Allin Kempthorne	...	Cedric Skenshal
Michael Lawson	...	Mourner
Kenny Lynch	...	Shotgun Ronnie White
Louise Morrison	...	Kelly Robinson
Clemmie Myers	...	Margot and Alice Abercrombie
Tommy O'Neill	...	Foreshore Thug 2
Terry Powell	...	Butler
Magda Rodriguez	...	Ruth
Darren Selvidge	...	Thames River PC
Paul Valentine	...	Foreshore Thug 1

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

UK:116 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent, England, UK

Company:

Grosvenor Park Productions

Trivia:

Final film of Gareth Hunt.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Vinnie Jones Is standing on Derek Jacobi's shoulders to break into the flat, next to the CCTV sign, it is entirely obvious that his weight is not on the shoulders, as his feet seem to be hovering in mid air.

Soundtrack:

Candle and Firelight

Interesting - Jacobi is superb

The Riddle is an enjoyable, tongue-in-cheek thriller that seems to take its inspiration from old radio detectives and noir novels.

It has two separate but intertwined stories, one about a sports writer try to solve the death of a friend and the other about a rediscovered book by Charles Dickens. Jacobi has different roles in both stories.

I was slightly baffled by some of the vitriolic comments until I read one lady who complained that there was 'some old guy' spouting gobbdygook. That would be Sir Derek Jacobi, giving the 'so much blood' speech by Charles Dickens after the death of Nancy.

Speaking personally, one of the world's greatest living actors reading words by the greatest writer of the 19th Century will do me.

One other thought. While I've never been a huge fan of Vinnie Jones, I was impressed by his range in this and his determination to move outside his usual roles. He deserves credit.

One for people who enjoy something quirky and intelligent.