The Thin Man
Genre: Mystery/Comedy
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Carl Flimmer
Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Zoey Deutch, Rosamund Pike, Guy Pearce, Jonathan Bailey, Nell Tiger Free, Peter Jacobson, Stephen Graham
Plot: The camera moves elegantly between the tables of a luxurious lounge bar, with elegant men and women sipping cocktails and conversing in low voices. Sitting in the center of the scene, at one of the main tables, are Nick (Tom Hiddleston) and Nora Charles (Zoey Deutch). Nick caresses his glass of whiskey while observing the surrounding environment with apparent boredom, Nora on the other hand throws a witty remark, slightly provoking him with a mischievous smile. In the middle of their conversation, a letter is delivered. Nick opens it lazily while Nora, always curious and attentive, comes closer to read it in turn. The letter is an invitation to an exclusive party hosted by Vincent Carlisle, a powerful film producer he had known in the past. Nick mutters something with an absent-minded air, while Nora, amused, tries to press him and convince him that they cannot miss it. Nick finishes the drink with a sarcastic remark, but Nora's knowing smile suggests that they will most likely go to the party.
A few days later. Nick and Nora are greeted at the entrance of Carlisle's gigantic house, located in Beverly Hills with the hills of Los Angeles shining in the background. Nora is bright, visibly excited by the festive atmosphere while Nick maintains his usual detached look, with a hint of amusement under his mustache. Upon entering, they are immediately immersed in a world made of movie stars, directors and industry moguls. Nick and Nora begin to move with ease among the guests, exchanging ironic comments about the glitz and famous faces around them. Their chemistry is palpable even in the middle of the crowd although while Nora has fun exchanging a few words with the stars present, Nick seems more interested in finding the bar to taste some cocktails.
At one point, their attention is caught by a group of people who are laughing loudly. At the center of the scene is Vincent Carlisle (Guy Pearce). Carlisle is the classic tycoon: dressed in an impeccable tuxedo, with the affable and confident smile of someone who knows he is one of the most influential men in the city. Nora, always sociable, approaches elegantly to get noticed, immediately attracting Carlisle's attention. He greets her warmly, making an exaggerated and charming compliment. Nick, more withdrawn, observes the scene with an amused smile, apparently disinterested, but in reality always attentive to how his wife is being treated. The camera pans to Marilyn Hayes (Rosamund Pike), sitting off to one side with a glass of liquor, visibly irritated. Her elegance seems tired now, her eyes shine with contained anger. A few guests watch her from afar, murmuring behind her back. Marilyn, once a very successful actress, is now in decline, her career marked by continuous failures and scandals. As the guests begin to form small groups, gossip spreads among them. There are whispers about Carlisle’s career and how he has toyed with people’s lives, manipulating his position of power in Hollywood. There is talk of sabotaged projects, secret affairs, and broken promises. Nick listens discreetly, picking up on the climate of discontent surrounding Carlisle. In that moment Peter Landon (Jonathan Bailey), a young film director, quickly approaches Carlisle. The interaction between the two is tense from the start. Landon, with a face marked by frustration, nervously insinuates that Carlisle is deliberately blocking his film projects. The young director can't hide his anger, a project he cared a lot about has been put on hold, and everyone knows that Carlisle is behind this decision. Carlisle, with his usual superior smile, dismisses Landon's accusations with a shrug, as if the matter were insignificant.
As the party continues, it is announced that Carlisle has an important revelation to make. The guests gather in the great room, curious to know what the tycoon is about to announce. Carlisle, with his charismatic tone, announces his new film project, which according to him will be "the film of the year". The crowd applauds but some faces do not seem particularly happy, something Nick notices immediately. Suddenly a female voice rises from the crowd: Marilyn Hayes interrupts Carlisle with a cutting and venomous remark. The two begin to exchange cutting remarks with more or less veiled accusations publicly revealing a personal grudge. Peter Landon suddenly enters the discussion. In a sarcastic and provocative tone, Landon insinuates that Carlisle has always done his bidding in Hollywood, blocking projects of anyone he doesn't like and using his power to decide who succeeds and who doesn't. After this quick exchange the situation calms down with Carlisle who returns to speaking in an apparently calm manner. In the meantime Nora listens, fascinated as always by the social dramas while Nick begins to understand that that night could turn out to be more interesting than expected.
The party continues. Nick and Nora mingling among the guests, discreetly listen to snippets of conversations. The guests begin to speak openly about how Carlisle has accumulated enemies over the years. There are stories of canceled projects, contracts torn up at the last minute, and broken promises. Some whisper about Lila Carlisle (Nell Tiger Free), Vincent's young wife who had entered a few minutes earlier, and her alleged extramarital affairs. Others hint at financial scandals, well-hidden secrets that could come to light at any moment. Suddendly a scream tears through the place. Nora immediately grabs Nick's arm with eyes sparkling with anticipation and leads him towards where the scream was heard. Nick and Nora head towards the study together with a group of curious guests. The door to the study is open, and on the floor lies the lifeless body of Vincent Carlisle in a pool of blood. The scene is chilling: Carlisle has been killed with a shot to the head. The guests are left speechless in front of the crime scene, some whispering in fear, others trying to move away in horror. The chaos spreads quickly: screams, cries and demands for explanations intertwine, while the servants try to maintain a minimum of control. Nora observes everything while Nick studies the room with an expert eye, trying to grasp the first details of the crime even if he is visibly reluctant to get involved.
The police arrive a few minutes later, and with them Captain Arthur O'Reilly (Stephen Graham), a tired but determined looking middle-aged man. O'Reilly is an old friend of Nick's, and when he sees his former colleague there, a wry smile spreads across his face. Meanwhile, the guests are herded into the main room for questioning one at a time. Captain O'Reilly makes his way through the crowd, approaching Nick with a look of relief and concern. He knows this case is complicated: Carlisle was a powerful figure, with many connections in the film industry and other enemies. O'Reilly approaches Nick, greeting him with a mix of friendship and sarcasm, as if he knows he'll need his help, even though Nick, long retired, is no longer officially an investigator. After a few friendly exchanges, O'Reilly asks Nick to assist him in the investigation, knowing the former detective's sharp mind. Nick, visibly reluctant, initially tries to decline the offer, insisting that he has retired from that life and would rather enjoy the pleasures of Los Angeles. Nora, meanwhile, observes the conversation between Nick and O'Reilly with a mischievous smile. It is clear that she never had any doubt that Nick would be involved. Her amused expression and sharp gaze suggest that Nora is already thinking about helping out with the investigation, even if Nick would never admit it openly. While Nick tries to resist the captain's insistence, Nora inserts herself into the conversation, pushing with her usual charm and humor for her husband to agree to help out. She, of course, wants to be part of the action, and jokes that Nick is no better at saying no to mysteries than he is at turning down a good cocktail. Nick, after some initial resistance, finally relents, agreeing to help O'Reilly investigate although he says he will prefer to keep a low profile and work behind the scenes, as an outside observer. O'Reilly shrugs, knowing full well that once Nick gets into the thick of the case, he won't be able to help but immerse himself completely.
The police begin questioning the guests one by one, but it is clear that many of them have something to hide. Marilyn Hayes, still visibly shaken by the altercation with Carlisle before his death, sits on the sidelines with a cigarette in her hand and stares into space while Peter Landon tries to maintain a calm appearance. Nora makes witty and provoking comments to Nick to get his opinion on possible suspects. Nick, in his classic sarcastic style, limits himself to answering cryptically, but it is clear that he has already started gathering information. There are many suspicious faces among the guests: each one seems to have a reason not to like Carlisle, and Nick notices it immediately. Lila Carlisle, the young and beautiful wife of the deceased, seems visibly shaken by crying all her tears quite loudly and Nick wonders if her grief is real or fake. In fact, Nick has collected rumors about an alleged affair between Lila and Peter Landon, making them both suspect in the eyes of many. Nora, almost amused, suggests that perhaps the love triangle between Lila, Carlisle and Landon could be at the center of the mystery. Nick, without answering, simply stares at the scene in front of him, knowing that the case is much more complex than it seems at first glance.
Nick and Nora, following O'Reilly, begin the interrogations. Nick and O'Reilly conduct the trial methodically and carefully while Nora, although kept at the sidelines by Nick out of caution, uses her social skills to carefully observe every reaction.
Interrogation of Marilyn Hayes. Marilyn is visibly annoyed and a little agitated, with smudged makeup and a tense look. Nick and O'Reilly ask her about the accusations made against Carlisle, and she does not hesitate to confirm her resentment. Nick, in a sarcastic tone, asks her to explain the nature of her accusations. Marilyn responds with wounded pride, recounting how Carlisle has let her career fall into oblivion due to old disagreements. However, when asked where she was at the time of the murder, Marilyn manages to provide an alibi, declaring that she was in the company of the screenwriter Henry Westfield (Peter Jacobson) and other guests in the ballroom. Nora, watching the scene from a short distance away, senses that Marilyn may not be responsible, despite her fiery temper. She notices a note of sincerity in his voice and exchanges a meaningful look with Nick, who at the end of the interrogation joins her, giving a quick account of what they have just discovered.
Interrogation of Peter Landon. Peter, the young director, seems much more nervous than Marilyn. With evasive eyes and agitated gestures, he tries to appear calm, but Nick and Nora pick up every sign of his uneasiness. Nick, with his deliberately sardonic tone, insinuates that Landon had a lot to lose with Carlisle still alive, since the producer had blocked his projects. Peter, trying to defend himself, admits frustration but denies having had sufficient reason to kill Carlisle, although O'Reilly and Nick seem skeptical. Nora, carefully observing the young man, catches a look that Peter gives to Lila Carlisle, Vincent's widow, and raises an eyebrow, sensing that there could really be a relationship between the two.
Interrogation of Lila Carlisle. The girl, elegant and detached, is questioned immediately after Peter. Her beauty and coldness attract the attention of Nick and Nora. Lila answers the questions with a composure apparently not shaken by her husband's death and without the tears she had shed in public until shortly before. When Nick asks her to explain the details of her relationship with Carlisle, Lila shows a certain nonchalance, limiting herself to underlining her role as a "facade wife" in Carlisle's life. Nick's poorly concealed sarcasm emerges when he asks her if by chance she wasn't more worried about the inheritance than the loss. Lila avoids the direct question, but Nora, with a sharp look, takes the opportunity to playfully insinuate that Lila may have had a more economic than passionate motive. This puts Lila on the defensive, revealing a slight tension for the first time.
Interrogation of Henry Westfield. The last to be questioned is Henry Westfield, an alcoholic screenwriter who shows up for questioning with a bottle in his hand and a melancholic air. During the conversation, he confesses to Nick and O'Reilly that he had an idea for a successful film, which Carlisle, however, would present as his own. Henry, in a moment of alcoholic sincerity, reveals that he has had a deep grudge against Carlisle for years. Despite the suspicion, he seems more inclined to resignation than revenge. The man also talks about a possible letter in Carlisle's office that could be a real bombshell throughout the Hollywood industry. He also says that he himself had entered the office to look for it but found the man already dead and ran away. Nick and Nora exchange a brief comment: Henry does not seem like the type to plan such an elaborate murder, but Nick nevertheless notes that he is not a suspect to be discarded.
Nick and Nora sneak into Carlisle's study to search for more evidence. While rummaging through the producer's papers, the Charleses discover an incomplete letter, seemingly addressed to a European buyer, tucked away in one of the drawers. The letter hints at Carlisle's plan to sell his production company to an international company, information that would likely destroy the careers of many artists and directors under contract. After reading it, the two share a tender kiss. Nick's idea is that Carlisle was about to retire from the film industry and walk away with a large sum of money, leaving Hollywood in chaos. As they look through the documents, Nora humorously expresses her disappointment in Carlisle, considering his actions an extreme act of selfishness. Nick, chuckling, points out that Carlisle's cynicism may have led to his downfall. Nick also smells the letter, detecting a woman's perfume.
With the potential deal discovered, Nick and Nora gather the remaining guests to reveal the information they found. Nick begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together in front of everyone: a manipulative producer, artists blocked by contracts and a wife indifferent to the mourning, all possible suspects, all damaged by Carlisle's decision. The atmosphere in the room heats up again, and the reactions to Nick's revelations are not long in coming: Peter, in particular, reacts angrily, while Henry lets himself go with poisonous comments. At that moment Lila says she's going to the bathroom to fix her makeup, followed shortly after by Peter himself who leaves the room without being seen. Nora, however, notices and witnesses a passionate kiss between the two as well as exchanging phrases about Carlisle's crime. When Nora returns to Nick they exchange a knowing look: now they are sure that Lila and Peter were not only lovers, but also that they themselves were probably plotting to obtain Carlisle's assets. However, Nick is still not convinced that they are the real culprits despite having recognized the women's perfume that ended up on the letter as the one Lila had that night. Meanwhile, O'Reilly, determined to close the case, is convinced that Peter and Lila are the culprits, thanks to their obvious relationship and financial movements. Nick, while admitting that there is evidence against him, expresses doubts about the ease with which Peter and Lila's guilt seems to reveal itself, sensing that someone may be playing a more cunning game behind their backs. Nora, with her usual irony, teases him, telling him that perhaps he is looking for a complication where there is no need, but Nick is adamant. In the end, O'Reilly decides to continue following Peter and Lila's trail.
It's dawn now. Nick has a plan and convinces O'Reilly to go along with it. The two, along with Nora, begin to set the table for a delicious breakfast. Marilyn, Peter, Lila and Henry are invited to join them for breakfast, announcing an important announcement regarding the investigation. The guests arrive in the room one at a time, each with an air of tension and curiosity, and take their places around the elegantly set table. Nick, with a tone of casual cheerfulness, begins to reconstruct the case, emphasizing how Lila and Peter are the most likely suspects, but suggests that the apparent perfection of their alibi is too far-fetched to be true. Lila and Peter, visibly uncomfortable, try to defend themselves, but Nora gracefully interrupts them, observing that there is more to the matter. As Nick proceeds with his explanation, a seemingly innocent comment about Marilyn Hayes slips into the conversation. Marilyn has maintained a deceptively calm demeanor throughout breakfast, but begins to show signs of nervousness when Nick casually remarks that only those who knew Carlisle well would know of his solitary midnight cigar routine in his study. Nora casts a witty glance at Marilyn and points out that, of all the guests, she alone had a personal reason to hate Carlisle, having suffered more than anyone from the sabotage of his career. Nick, now more forceful, accuses her of orchestrating the murder not to defend her own reputation, but for revenge and to frame Lila and Peter, whom she knew to be lovers.
The woman tries to defend herself and remain calm but at a certain point, under pressure, Marilyn gives in. Snorting with a mixture of anger and resignation, she confesses that, years before, Carlisle had brought her to the top of her career only to then make her collapse from one day to the next when she had tired of her by also inventing false scandals. She admits that she had guessed Peter and Lila's plan to kill Carlisle and obtain his assets and that she had decided to act first, to prevent them from taking what she believed was rightfully hers. As she recounts the details, Marilyn lets go of an impassioned monologue on the ruin of her career and the injustices of Hollywood. Nick and Nora listen attentively, revealing a mixture of admiration and compassion for what turns out to be a wounded and determined woman. Before taking the woman away to the police station, she suggests to Nick that the perfume on the letter was his and not Lila's.
After a few hours, Nick and Nora, elegantly dressed, relax in a lounge bar each with a drink in hand. Nick makes an ironic toast, commenting on how, once again, they found themselves involved in a case that was supposed to be a simple social party.
Nora, laughing, responds with an affectionate joke, saying that maybe next time they will really be able to take a crime-free vacation as long as they stay away from parties, clubs, trains, and any place that could in any way attract danger. Nick, with his characteristic smirk, responds with a joking phrase, implying that, deep down, he loves this lifestyle and that a quiet life is not for them. She asks him how he knew of Marilyn's guilt and he chuckles that he didn't know and that he hoped it was her because otherwise he wouldn't have known how to solve the case quickly. As they chat, laugh and exchange joking comments, something catches their attention.
A small fox terrier, with a lively and curious look, approaches them, wagging its tail and sniffing around. Nora immediately bends down to pet it, fascinated by the dog's sweetness. Nick watches amused, making a sarcastic comment about the "new detective of the family", but can't hold back a smile when the dog jumps on him, visibly affectionate. After a few moments, they exchange a look, and Nick, with a half smile, realizes that they can no longer do without this new companion. Nora, beaming, suggests calling him "Asta", and Nick agrees with a nod, while petting the dog who now happily trots next to them. Nora jokes that perhaps, with a dog by their side, the next adventures could be a little more lively. Nick, with his typical irony, replies that Asta will be an excellent investigative assistant, ready to defend them and discover hidden clues.
The three leave the place. As they walk, the camera slowly pans away, leaving the couple and their new friend as they disappear into the city ready for a life together always full of mystery and new adventures.
No comments:
Post a Comment