The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Dir: Scott Cooper
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A raft of mediocre reviews had prepared me for a film of the same ilk, but I must confess, I found myself somewhat bemused by those who found this to be devoid of quality. Let me say this, it is by no means a once in a generation classic, not in the slightest, but I must avert the claims that this is a bad film.
Director Scott Cooper may have lost his way a little during the second act, but, for the most part, there is a solid murder mystery to be seen here. Adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by Louis Bayard, this Netflix produced film is of peculiar and intriguing nature.
The chilling cinematography of Masanobu Takayanagi combines with the somber composition of Howard Shore, to illicit a morbid and melancholic aura to the story.
Add to this, that one of the main characters is the infamously morbid and death-obsessed writer and poet; Edgar Allan Poe, and you have a rather macabre tale.
A total runtime of 2 hours 10 minutes does have the misfortune of feeling half an hour longer, due to rather slow pacing, but it is not nearly as slow or dull as some might suggest. The plot is intertwining and intricate, perhaps too much so for its own good at times, but it finds its way towards its end.
Protagonist and co-producer Christian Bale is hampered by a noticeably inconsistent accent, but that aside, he provides a reasonable enough performance, though certainly not a spectacular one.
Harry Melling on the other hand, is exemplary. His accent, his mannerisms and his delivery is wonderfully in keeping with the story and setting, as well as his troubled character. I was utterly thrilled by his display of talent.
Lucy Boynton shows her own talent in a comparatively smaller role. She certainly made herself memorable to the audience, despite her limited screentime.
Gillian Anderson's portrayal of a rather unstable lady is very entertaining to watch - her obvious acting credentials allowing her to take her character's eccentricities right to the edge of being absurd, but holding firm and delivering as I was hoping.
Toby Jones is always a unique viewing pleasure, he may not always get the credit he deserves, but he always turns up in big films, although, as he does here, usually in supporting roles. His performance is of his usual standard, that is to say, consistent and solid. Nothing too loud or rushed, he is deliberate and clever in his delivery.
I will also take the time to list some of the other cast members, of whom deserved note, those being Robert Duvall, Harry Lawtey, Hadley Robinson, Simon McBurney, Charlotte Gainsbourg and the talented Timothy Spall.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable, if slightly flawed murder mystery that deserves more positivity than it has received. I personally rather liked it, and I'm sure any fans of the murder mystery genre would find themselves agreeing with me.
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