Allen sticks around London for a sugar-free ‘Scoop’ (2006)
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): The previous year’s “Match Point” was so good that Allen can be forgiven a few middling trifles. “Scoop” is one of them.
Mystery
Allen sticks around London for a sugar-free ‘Scoop’ (2006)
Christie dives into romantic minds in ‘The Hollow’ (1946)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): “The Hollow” is Christie’s elite piece of character writing to this point. As a bonus, it’s a strong Poirot potboiler too.
‘Grave Descend’ (1970) flirts with high-seas thrills
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): The seventh John Lange novel isn’t as deep as it could’ve been, but the mystery plot makes it a page-turner.
Murder mystery almost an afterthought on ‘American Rust’
First episode impressions (TV review): The genre of a dead body in a dying town is well-worn. But “American Rust” is at least appealingly well-worn.
Christie reflects on death in ‘Sparkling Cyanide’ (1945)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): One of Christie’s most cinematic novels shuffles the chronological approach but in other ways goes by the book.
‘A Case of Need’ (1968) makes case as Crichton’s first gem
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): What was Crichton’s first great novel? A case could be made for the medical thriller “A Case of Need.”
Makeovers, musings come to fore in ‘Moving Finger’ (1943)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This isn’t Christie’s deepest work, but it’s an enjoyably brisk yarn touching on small-town gossip and self-confidence.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ combines crime, cuteness
First episode impressions (TV review): For a dark comedy, this murder serial is warm-hearted. The subtle humor is a delight, and the mystery is compelling.
Marple says ‘trust no one’ in ‘Body in the Library’ (1942)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Miss Marple’s filter of what’s important in a case is fine-tuned in her long-awaited second novel.
‘Reminiscence’ unspools noir plot against cli-fi backdrop
Movie review: The waterlogged future is gorgeous to look at, but the plot is rather standard for a film that seems to promise so much more.