It seems no one has ever read a Raymond Chandler or seen one of his films, because this is a remake (without any credit to Chandler) of his book "Farewell, My Lovely". And it's not a good remake either. The mix of 1930's attempt at dialog and action doesn't always feel right in a modern setting. It can feel forced. And, it you are a Chandler fan, who is the originator of this genre, it doesn't live up to the master. Also, if you are familiar with "Farewell, My Lovely" (or the best film version "Murder, My Sweet" with an amazing Dick Powell in a career changing role for him) then there really isn't any surprise in the plot either. All in all it's a bit of a disappointment, even if I try to appreciated the attempt, and Bandera isn't that bad as a Philip Marlowe substitute.