Maigret in Montmartre (2017) UK

Twin murder mystery!

Genre:

TV Movie, Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     It's already fourth from a film franchise made for television. A couple of months ago I reviewed the previous film, and since then I have been looking forward for this one. It was a Christmas season release, and like usual, I'm a little late to watch it. Sadly, this instalment was underwhelmingly received. But I won't agree on that. In fact, it was much better than some of the previous films, especially in maintaining the suspense. Except the basic plot, it was okayish! I mean very casual, like any murder mystery, it opened its account. In the modern detective films, there should be a opening twist and the end twist. That's what lacked in this!

     It's a detective film, so what do you expect other than a murder mystery. So another murder that picks Maigret instead of the other way around. He could have stopped it in the beginning itself, but without it there won't be a story to tell us. This time it's a twin murder with signs of one murderer. Like usual Maigret goes after the clues that all points for a nightclub.

     It's a puzzle to solve, everyone around the victims have some kind of secrets to hide, including the victims. Now Maigret has to convince them all to come clean and sets for a trap to catch the bad guy. It was not a surprise twist, but a decent one to end the mystery once for all. There always a suspectable atmosphere about all the prime character tied to the murders. That's how the entire momentum was created to narrate the tale. Then I don't think anybody would guess perfectly who is the killer before it unfolds itself. But the angle is convincing, that makes the overall film a decent.

 At the heart of this case is a man who feels aggrieved. 

     There's a regular cast and one-time cast. The regular ones were good, led by Atkinson in the title role. As always he dominated, then his colleague vanished with a lesser screenspace. The one-timers contributed well too. The night club people, the young boy Phillippe, the Grasshopper and finally all the suspense is around the name Oscar. Montmartre street is the crime scene, but regarding the victims, they are from two different social classes. One a nightclub dancer and the other a high profile name. That is the big riddle the Miagret has to solve by connecting.

     The fourth film and a fourth director to helm this iconic novel adapted detective story. As well the first time the writer has been replaced. It maintained its average viewership, but like I've said, not everybody happy with it. I don't know what led them to that conclusion, but I enjoyed it. Nothing special, just a simple suspense drama. On the average it is an acceptable. Especially as it was made for television, that's the perfect platform to have it to maximise the outcome.

     Now the final question is can we expect the fifth film! They have recreated the brand that I've only heard of. This is my first version of this iconic detective. This modern version is to reach all the new generation and it did its part decently. So they should continue with it. This and the Jesse Stones can't be compared for several reasons, but this could be the British's own Jesse Stones. I meant purely as a television product, and about a detective. If you had enjoyed the previous three, you would do the same for it as well. Could be lesser, but that does not mean it is a bad flick. So those who wants a cop film, it will be a decent pick.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, Maigret's Night at the Crossroads.


External link(s):

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Jasper Jones (2017) Australia

A mystery surrounding a girl's death.

Genre:

Drama, Mystery, Thriller.

Length:

Approximately 5-minute read.


Review:
     An Australia's murder mystery set in a small town. The film was based on the novel of the same name. Starred by the next generation Aussie actors like Levi Miller and Angourie Rice. But the film was not what I had expected. Just okayish. Not at first glance I liked it, because I thought it was a little out of common sense, even from the kid's perspective. I don't blame the entire film, but the opening. Too intentional and right away jumped into the suspense.

     This is a children's film, the story of teenagers, and a mystery surrounding the death of a girl. After the unconvinced start, not even the end brought any consolation. Though it could have been for just me. That's what I felt. So according to me, only the mid parts held the film for me to look for something in the later. All it had was the wonder characters and the storyline. The rest of the film failed to stretch with the best developments. Definitely a good tale for literature, but for a film, to witness everything on the visuals, it needed more detail. Only if it had depth, I would have found it a better film.

     The story that happened in the holiday week that comes between the Christmas and the New Year. In a fictional Aussie town called Corrigan, a young Charlie was approached by Jasper in the middle of the night. Later he comes to know Jasper's girlfriend has been murdered. Now they are set to find who did it and why bofore the athorities do! The following days are crucial for both of them as the whole town is terrified by the incident. When the time comes to the truth, the secrets were revealed just before the film's end.

 You're just like her, your mother. You're peas in a pod, you two. 

     There was a little distraction like the Vietnam war, racism. All the above, the character Jasper Jones seemed an imagination of Charlie. Because of his secret appearance, but that did not last long. Yet the murder mystery always stayed top of the film topic. When the end revealed everything, that reminded me the films of 60-70 years ago. The timeline for this film too was in the same period, precisely 1969. The locations were awesome, the cinematography should be appreciated.

     I thought the Jeffrey was an under-used or unrequired character, until the cricket match scene that's dedicated to him. Following it, what happened to his family was a nice flow of the story. Charlie's family too, the issue of the parents, crisis is their marriage. As I said, the film had ingredient, but did not cook properly. The reviewers, the film critics comparing it to some of the classics like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' to 'Stand By Me'. But I would say, it is too late to come to get equal status of those films. It was just an above average, but if it came in the 80s or 90s, surely would have been a gem and changed the Australian filmdom.

     Despite the film title, the story was narrated by Charlie, the one who developed an unexpected relation in the most extreme situation with Jasper Jones. Apart from one worst week of his life, he also finds his first love. A coming-of-age film, worth a watch, but no doubt that it should have better. Not sure if the majority would like it or dislike it, but it is once watchable film. Finally, it got nominated for the Australian Academy Awards for this year (2017) in six categories, sadly it had won nothing. I hope that should not be a reason for you to skip it!



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Tidal Wave, Gravity, The Hobbit, Frozen, The Little Prince.


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Maigret: Night at the Crossroads (2017) UK

The secrets of Three Windows Crossroad!

Genre:

Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     The third film in the ITV's latest television franchise, starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. It was aired earlier this year, but I've decided to watch it later, which is now, because the fourth will be coming out around the same time. This is another good addition to the series, but not the best one. The first one was good. The second was a little lesser than that. And now this one comes between them two.

     Obviously I anticipated it to be good, since Atkinson in it, doing out of his usual, and a character like Jules Maigret, it's always a high hope. According to many, this is the best one so far, and I can see their reason. But I'm on the different side. Of course I enjoyed it. It was one of the decent detective films. Especially for the television standards, it is better than most of the others. And giving a new meaning for a popular detective from the fictional world was a well done. Though one of my issues with Maigret's screenspace in this particular tale.

     It was based on the book of the same name. Yet again, they are set to solve another murder mystery in the Paris. Maigret is the prime decoder of such puzzle, though I was not happy with how his parts were handled. That means the other character around him had got better scope. That includes the other side of the character, like the baddies. Until the finale you won't know who is the villain, but the film covered enough everyone involving in this narration.

 And there was a moment when I thought you might be a ticket worth buying, as well. 

     Started off with the death of a Jewish diamond merchant and framed someone else for it. There's no clear data available whose behind it and the reason. Maigret got involved in the case, but another inspector argues its his. They get along and try to solve it. The mystery is not the murder, but as the title hints, a place little outside Paris called Three Windows Crossroad. Ultimately, after all the attempts, Maigret ends up there at one night, which brings a light to the probe.

     The end was not surprising enough, hence the reason I did not like it as the other viewers. It was not about prediction. For that, one must keep close eye on Miagret and his expressions, which is a clue to guess what could come next. Well, the cast was amazing. The settings and the direction too. Being a detective film, it had all those ingredients. So anybody would enjoy watching it, but that's not same as it will become your favourite crime solving film. If that happens, well, then that's good.

     Most of the story taking place outside the Paris, makes it look like a tale that could be from any timeline. Unlike the books that sets in the 30s, these films were in the 50s. Little slow paced narrative, but it's nothing to do with the story and the characters which were so well established. I have never seen films, series or read stories about Jules Maigret before, so I liked this film series thus far. The next one due in less than a month. As always hoping that would beat all the expectations and becomes the best one.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, An Inspector Calls, Jesse Stone, Mystery Road.


External link(s):

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A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2017) Canada

Mystery baby.

Genre:

TV Movie, Crime, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Part-VI review:
     The sixth in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery film series made for television. The final film for now, until the next one comes out. Based on the book named 'A Fool and His Honey'. Fourth director to helm a film in the franchise. So far I've enjoyed all the films. They all were decent, as I say, for the small screen standards. Produced for Hallmark channel, surely the target audience is women. But the whole family can enjoy them, I meant including kids, since it has less violence.

     Surely a nice storyline for a literature. The film too was not bad, but it depends on the viewers. For instance, if you take me, I've seen many similar films. I'm not talking about crime solving themes, but this same platform with different characters, locations and a style of narration. That's why it is a television film, aimed for those viewers who are less familiar with the thematic. But I appreciate the effort. The production quality to the writing, music, performances, all were better. Especially the Hallmark's common cliche, the romance had got ridden. You will be happy for that if you are a male audience.

     Another case where Aurora did not choose, but it chose her. It was slightly different than all the previous ones. Because she did not know what she's looking for. A young woman with a newborn baby had come to her house saying she's her boyfriend's niece. But the twist was a few moments later, she went missing and a stranger dead on her front porch. The baby was left behind. It was closely linked case, due to her relationship with Martin. It's good that way, because intensifies the atmosphere and no room for mistakes.

 Did you come with an instruction book? Because I am very good with books. 

     There was a basic flaw. It was where the whole platform constructed on. Only at the end you will realise that. That it all would have been solved easily by those involved in it, before dragging Aurora and others into it. Even if it is in a life threatening situation. Because of what we predict, those possibilities, the theories, particularly against those people, are not strong enough. It was those young people, who wrongly handled the situation. That's why the original source material rightly titled, calling a fool.

     Everything's about the baby. The baby gives the reason for this story, and also to solve the mystery. From the opening to the mid-section, it was a nice film. They did all they could improvise the narration, but the end was average. The film flourished only for its suspense. The answers were all the time in front of us, in front of Aurora. The writers just dragged it with the kind of character design, with somewhat a convincing reason. The romance parts, either it was Aurora and Martin or Aida and John, did not go anywhere. Joining hands, doing the investigation, that's one way to improve their relationship.

     This is not the best in the series. At least better than the previous one. A new director, though nothing much has changed. The regular cast steered it with their best. It was a better film series than I'd anticipated. I had a nice time with them in the last one and a half weeks. The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries giving a new dimensional entertainment for the home audience. I mean, can you name a few crime/murder mystery titles with rating General. I don't know when the next one is coming out, but looking forward to it. In the meantime, I would suggest it, but not for all. Just lower your expectation and enjoy it.



Previous films:
A Bone to Pick, Real Murders, Three Bedrooms One Corpse, The Julius House, Dead Over Heels.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
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