I saw "Marlowe" last night, and while not bowled over, the film was an inventive update of the main character Philip Marlowe by Irishman Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game, "In Dreams"). It certainly deserves a more favorable response that what we've seen so far from critics and wannabe critics. While a few notches below the gold standard of latter-day film noir -- think of "L. A. Confidential," "Sin City," and "Nightmare Alley" -- overall the storyline holds up; the cinematography is excellent; and fellow Irishmen Liam Neeson is convincing as a lead. Yes, I know. The principal photography was shot in Dublin and Barcelona; this isn't Los Angeles, now or then. And this isn't the first time the Philip Marlow character has made the large screen. Overall, however, this is an enjoyable, middleweight crime drama.
