The Riddle
2007
A journalist investigates a series of murders that follows the discovery of an unpublished novel by Charles Dickens in the cellar of an old Thames-side-pub. Gradually he becomes obsessed with unraveling a century-old murder in the pages of the manuscript. Only when he has done so, with the help of a mysterious beach-combing .. Read more
| Starring | Vinnie Jones, Derek Jacobi, Julie Cox, Vanessa Redgrave |
|---|---|
| Director | Brendan Foley |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
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The Riddle
A journalist investigates a series of murders that follows the discovery of an unpublished novel by Charles Dickens in the cellar of an old Thames-side-pub. Gradually he becomes obsessed with unraveling a century-old murder in the pages of the manuscript. Only when he has done so, with the help of a mysterious beach-combing tramp who stalks the Thames foreshore, is he able to solve the modern murders.
| Starring | Vinnie Jones, Derek Jacobi, Julie Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Flemyng, P.H. Moriarty, Mel Smith, Vera Day, Mark Asante |
|---|---|
| Director | Brendan Foley |
| Studio | METRODOME |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 40 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 12 Jan 2009 Production year: 2007 |
| Format | DVD |
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Most helpful member's review
View all -
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Too predictable, but honest fun
The synopsis of the film makes it sound like a mouth watering mixture of an Agatha Christie Whodunnit and a Dickensien melodrama. What we actually have is a poorly scripted, low budget British thriller with a few decent actors thrown in to give it gravitas.
But...
I actually ended up watching it twice, and both times ended with a smile on my face. Vinny Jones is badly miscast as the lead. He really needs to stick to just playing hard-man roles, but Derek Jacobi as the tramp hams it up fantasically. You can watch his scenes over and over again just to make yourself smile. Other 'names' in the film get little screen time. Vanessa Regrave, Mel Smith, Jason Flemying even Kenny Lynch are hardly in it long enough to warrent a credit, but at least it makes the cast list seem credible.
The script is poor. As a whodunnit it holds no twists and turns and is very linear. If the concept of the film had been turned over to someone else we could well be looking at a modern classic, but as it is, it was always destined to go straight to rental and then straight into the bargin bin.
Don't dismiss it all together though. Over all it IS entertaining and it IS watchable. You may well laugh at it for all the wrong reasons, but as long as it entertains, isn't that the main thing? -
Most recent members' review
View all -
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Too predictable, but honest fun
The synopsis of the film makes it sound like a mouth watering mixture of an Agatha Christie Whodunnit and a Dickensien melodrama. What we actually have is a poorly scripted, low budget British thriller with a few decent actors thrown in to give it gravitas.
But...
I actually ended up watching it twice, and both times ended with a smile on my face. Vinny Jones is badly miscast as the lead. He really needs to stick to just playing hard-man roles, but Derek Jacobi as the tramp hams it up fantasically. You can watch his scenes over and over again just to make yourself smile. Other 'names' in the film get little screen time. Vanessa Regrave, Mel Smith, Jason Flemying even Kenny Lynch are hardly in it long enough to warrent a credit, but at least it makes the cast list seem credible.
The script is poor. As a whodunnit it holds no twists and turns and is very linear. If the concept of the film had been turned over to someone else we could well be looking at a modern classic, but as it is, it was always destined to go straight to rental and then straight into the bargin bin.
Don't dismiss it all together though. Over all it IS entertaining and it IS watchable. You may well laugh at it for all the wrong reasons, but as long as it entertains, isn't that the main thing? -
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A journalist investigates a series of murders that follows the discovery of an unpublished novel by Charles Dickens in the cellar of an old Thames-side-pub. Gradually he becomes obsessed with ... -