In Neil Jordan’s stylish retro-noir Marlowe, set in 1939, Liam Neeson portrays Raymond Chandler’s legendary Philip Marlowe as a weary old gumshoe who can still batter or trick his way out of perilous situations without breaking a sweat. So why is he the most anxious Marlowe yet?
Look no further than Mrs. Clare Cavendish, the creamy-complexioned upper-class client whose breathy undertone and apparent availability play havoc with Marlowe’s composure, so intent is he on chastely maintaining his integrity. Played to faux-ladylike perfection by Diane Kruger, Clare is less icy and potentially more fiery than most Hitchcock blondes. Or is it all an act? Marlowe doesn’t do his due diligence when he agrees to find Clare’s missing lover.
