See How They Run – Movie Review
Director: Tom George
Writer: Mark Chappell (Screenplay)
Cast
- Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)
- Sam Rockwell (Moon)
- Harris Dickinson (The King’s Man)
- Adrien Brody (The Pianist)
- Ruth Wilson (Saving Mr Banks)
Plot: 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.
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: See How They Run starts in the aftershow of the Agatha Christe play Mousetrap. Film director Leo Kopernick (Brody) is killed and left on stage for everyone to see. Inspector Stoppard (Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Ronan) take the names and ask the questions.
As the pair lead their investigation, they must learn about the prime suspects. Film producer John Woolf (Shearsmith), screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (Oyelowo), theater owner Petula Spencer (Wilson) and many others. As the investigation takes twists and turns, they must solve the murder before it is too late.
Verdict on See How They Run
Characters
Constable Stalker is an over-eager rookie on the force. She jumps into cases with both feet and a positive attitude. Stalker takes notes of everything she sees, as she is desperate to pass her upcoming exams. She does get starstruck around Richard Attenborough, while the investigation continues.
Inspector Stoppard is the lead investigator on the case, he is laid back about solving it while turning to his addictions along the way. He does look to do the right thing and even if his methods are not always the best.
When it comes to the list of suspects, we dive into the cast and crew. Like with many murder mysteries, we get a string of potential suspects, each having their potential motivation. These supporting characters are fun to watch and learn about their strengths and weaknesses.
Performances
Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell are both wonderful together, with Saoirse being perky and positive, while Sam is more beaten down by life. In the supporting cast, we get the different suspects who all shine in their quirky roles throughout the film.
Story
The story follows two police officers that must investigate the murder within the West End theater. It sees everything look like they could be a suspect and the police officers must get to the bottom of the case before the killer strikes again.
The story is very clever, it openly mocks a certain style of a murder mystery. This plays perfectly into how the case unfolds as the movie is filled with puns along the way. Plenty of clues point the fingers at different suspects, which keep us guessing along the way.
Everything in told in a lighter tone, to keep the story feeling engaging throughout too. This is a joy to watch and a story that keeps you wanting more.
Themes
See How They Run is a mystery comedy that dives into a murder in 1950s West End. It thrives in the era, with costumes, music and set design. This helps suck us into the environment that gives us a truly enjoyable movie experience. The comedy hits well, with puns or eccentric versions of characters along the way.
Final Thoughts – See How They Run is a truly delightful movie, with laughs, a mystery and brilliant performances.