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eddie-fischer
Reviews
The Riddle (2007)
Good noir - Sir Derek Jacobi stands out
As a big fan of Sir Derek Jacobi from I Claudius onward, and also a fan of Charles Dickens, I really enjoyed The Riddle.
Vinnie Jones is very different from his usual hard man. Here he plays a typical noir 50s B-movie hero, being buffeted about by the action like a latter-day Jake in Chinatown.
The supporting cast do well, though sometimes it feels a little too like a TV thriller. Mel Smith stands out and Vanessa Redgrave sparks as an evil newspaper proprietor but is only in for an extended cameo.
But by far the best part of the film, in terms of both story and performance is Jacobi in two roles, one as an oddball vagrant and one as Derek Jacobi. The Victorian scenes have a great melodramatic feel and Jacobi is at his hypnotic best.
Fans of quirky noir, of Dickens and of Sir Derek Jacobi will enjoy this. People wanting to see Vinnie Jones bash people up may be disappointed. Interesting casting throughout.