At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try to stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.
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Title: The Oxford Murders (2008)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Elijah Wood | ... | Martin | |
| John Hurt | ... | Arthur Seldom | |
| Leonor Watling | ... | Lorna | |
| Julie Cox | ... | Beth | |
| Jim Carter | ... | Inspector Petersen | |
| Alex Cox | ... | Kalman | |
| Burn Gorman | ... | Yuri Podorov | |
| Dominique Pinon | ... | Frank | |
| Anna Massey | ... | Mrs. Eagleton | |
| Danny Sapani | ... | Scott | |
 |
Alan David | ... | Mr. Higgins |
|
|
Tim Wallers | ... | Defense Lawyer |
| James Weber Brown | ... | Doctor | |
|
|
Ian East | ... | Howard Green |
| Charlotte Asprey | ... | Howard Green's Wife | |
Martin (Elijah Wood), a PhD student in mathematics, enrolls at Oxford in the hope of meeting his mentor, Professor Arthur Seldom (Sir John Hurt). The young man manages to find lodging at Mrs. Eagleton's (Anna Massey's), but in this house, a stifling atmosphere prevails due to the landlady's attitude. Indeed Mrs. Eagleton, who happens to be a friend of Seldom's, is a haughty and unsympathetic woman who also stifles her daughter Beth (Julie Cox). At the university, things do not fare much better as Martin is put in his place by his idol during one of Seldom's lectures. But his private life changes for the best as he starts an affair with Lorna (Leonor Watling), a beautiful girl he met during a game of squash. One night, Seldom and Martin, who find themselves at Mrs. Eagleton's, discover her dead body. They are interrogated by the Police. Soon afterwards, they decide to lead their own private investigation. Written by Guy Bellinger
An ambitious mathematics grad student in number theory, Martin (Elijah Wood), arrives in Oxford eager to work with famed Professor Seldom (John Hurt). The film refreshingly starts with a brief history of math and the philosophical stances of both characters on the subject. Then the first murder occurs, with of course the use of a symbol that begs the assistance of Professor Seldom and Martin in the police case.
"The Oxford Murders" is good because it uses actual math and consistent logic. One of their only deviations is the use of Bormat's Last Theorem instead of Fermat's Last Theorem but that is just to keep in line with its fictional characters. There were perhaps a few too many twists but it was well enough written that most of them probably could have been predicted.
It plays out exactly like an old-fashioned murder mystery and set in compelling Oxford University. Like old-fashioned murder mysteries, there is no violence or gore but has a liberal use of profanity and sexual nudity (but Wood and Leonor Watling are very attractive so that's not an issue). I enjoyed the use of math and logic in "The Oxford Murders" and will likely search out future films from the writers and director.