FilmSnobReviews

Title: See How They Run
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Tom George
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson
Runtime: 1hr 38m

What It Is: In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered.

What We Think: “It’s a whodunnit. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.” A line sardonically delivered by Adrien Brody’s character in this film’s opening minutes pokes fun at the tried and true formula (possibly at the recent resurgence of the genre as well), and what follows is a charming romp through the streets of 1950’s London that certainly delights.

See How They Run proves (as much as Knives Out did) that these stories can still be crafted in a thoughtful way – Mark Chappell’s script is chock-full of winks, shocks, and memorable characters. Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan (the two SR’s, I like to call them) play a detective and constable (respectively) whose chemistry is undeniably the heart of this picture, tootling around in a tiny blue car trying to find answers from the rest of the colorful cast. Stylistically, the frames of the film slide in and around its subjects, with smooth camera movements and meticulous blocking that would make any theatre director proud. To go even further on that point – having theatrical elements present in this story and by it being set in a different time period offers a healthy serving of panache, along with Rockwell’s mustache. He’s terrific here, with energetic facial expressions that tell more than what’s being said at times. Ronan is the perfect partner to his persona, the eager-to-learn rookie who tackles everything head-on with an enthusiastic charge. Amazing performances all around, and those two stand at the forefront.

Our Grade: A; There’s no stopping the whodunnit renaissance, and See How They Run has already become one of its greatest leaders. An enjoyable and engaging story tightly packed into 90 minutes, with no time for nonsense – only for laughs and thrills.