I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

"Sleuth" has an incredibly high rating of 8.1 at the present time. This would make it one of the best, or at least one of the most enjoyed films of the 1970s. So, imagine my surprise when I found I disliked the movie!The story is essentially a two person play put on film. A famous writer (Laurence Olivier) invites his wife's young lover (Michael Caine) to his manor and they two talk and talk and talk and talk. Ultimately, the older man convinces his rival that he wants to help him. To do so, he'll help the younger man arrange a fake robbery. And, the young guy will be able to take a box filled with jewels as a goodbye present. The older man, then, will declare the loss with his insurer and everyone will be happy (aside from the insurance company). There are many twists and turns...many.So why didn't I like this film? I already mentioned that it's VERY talky. But it also fails for me because of the incredible over- acting by both leading men--particularly Olivier. I know he has a golden reputation, but here he just seemed unrestrained and occasionally really overdid it. Not an enjoyable experience overall for me.

Like the house in Long Day's Journey Into Night the estate on which Sleuth was shot almost is a character itself in this film adaption of Andrew Shaffer's play. From the cinematographer's point of view Sleuth can be best compared to that classic film of Eugene O'Neill's play. The souls of the dysfunctional Tyrone family are laid bare there. In Sleuth upper class mystery writer Laurence Olivier and hair salon owner Michael Caine are also laid bare. The difference is that these two are hardly related, in fact are antagonists in every way possible.That's because Caine has been bedding Olivier's wife. Not that it is of any real concern to Olivier as he has a mistress of his own. But there is a certain patrician pride involved.So he gets Caine over to his estate on a pretext and the two of them start playing mind games. Olivier is far more experienced at this then Caine, his set do it for sport. He beats Caine, but Caine comes back in a week for rematch and Caine who has a surname anglicized from Italian and had a humble station in life plays quite for real. He's also a fast learner.Dialog is almost all in this battle of wit and the repartee from Anthony Shaffer's pen is superb for both characters. Sleuth got four Oscar nominations and two of those went to both Olivier and Caine for Best Actor. But even with them splitting the Sleuth vote I doubt that either would have beaten Marlon Brando that year for the Oscar.I have not yet seen it, but I look forward to the remake of Sleuth with Caine now aged into the mystery writer's part. But this version is more than adequate, in fact superb.

People who think games of cat-and-mouse were popularized by modern series like frickin' Death Note need to take a good hard look at not only themselves, but films like Sleuth. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve) and written by Anthony Schaffer (Frenzy, The Wicker Man), this film is classic game of cat and mouse jam-packed with memorable scenes and dialogue.The game/film starts with hairdresser Milo Tindle (Michael Caine) visiting mystery writer Andrew Wyke (Laurence Olivier) at his large country house. Milo is dating Andrew's wife Marguerite, you see, so already we've got a conflict of interest. Andrew, however, has no qualms about divorcing her, but doesn't want to drown in alimony in the process. Marguerite has expensive tastes, you see. After getting to know (and dislike) each other a bit, Andrew proposes a plan: Milo will rob some valuable jewels in his house which he can then pawn off in Amsterdam while Andrew collects the insurance money. All goes well, until… Honestly, I could describe what happens then, but that plot twist occurs around the one hour mark, so that would ruin a bit too much of the fun.Being a game of cat and mouse, the film has lots of fun with familiar tropes in this genre. I always sensibly chuckle whenever collecting insurance money is a major plot element. The fact that Andrew is himself a mystery writer only makes it better. The film's ending is also a wonderfully literal visualization of that good old mystery trope, the last laugh. Thankfully, however, the self-awareness doesn't ruin the suspense. Quite the opposite. There's a lot of tension hidden under the veritable mountain of witty lines.I will say that I didn't love Sleuth after first seeing it many years ago. It's mostly to do with something involving a disguise. At the time, I immediately identified him for who he really was so the eventual reveal was disappointing. I always assumed it was supposed to be this big twist for the audience, but since it failed miserably, I felt disappointed with the film. Having watched it again recently, I figure the joke is supposed to be on the other character and not the audience. The audience, rather than being surprised, can anticipate the other guy's reaction when he discovers he's been deceived. At least, I hope that's the case.Now, the acting. It's easily half the film. The film is roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes long and it all mostly takes place in Andrew's house, but it never gets boring and it's precisely due to the acting and the witty screenplay. The entire film is predicated upon Milo and Andrew verbally sparring and it doesn't disappoint. Both Caine and Olivier don't miss a single beat and the script's supply of morbidly delightful lines is virtually limitless. Mankiewicz's direction also helps. He makes up for the lack of variety in locales by occasionally cutting to quick shots of the house's bizarre decorations, which include an array of dolls, to reinforce the sense of dread underlying the proceedings.As to why the film is still impressive, I assume it's to do with a combination of witty dialogue, acting and…its brand of cruelty. It's not so much in what they force each other to do, but what they force each other to feel. It's why Sleuth is such a funny, but also cruel film even by today's standards. Today, cruelty is primarily exemplified by physical pain as seen in the Saw films, etc. Sleuth is the exact opposite. It's about humiliation and inflicting as much psychological pain on each other.But make no mistake, Sleuth is also very funny. You have to ignore your expectations of typical dramas and go into Sleuth expecting a game, albeit a morbid one. The film is at its core quite ridiculous, but that's part of the deal…and the fun.

Agreeable mystery based on successful play about a cat and mouse game . Andrew Wyke (Laurence Olivier) is a famous writer who lives in a luxurious mansion . He loves games and theater invites his wife's lover to meet him . Wyke is a successful novelist , a master of menace , the number one bestseller author from Baron Books . There arrives Milo (Michael Caine) , a hairdresser who seeks to convince the former for signing the divorce papers and Andrew in seeking avenge on his detested and unfaithful wife . Andrew and Milo setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results . An ultimate game is being played on its audience .This lighthearted suspense/mystery based on a hit play from Anthony Shaffer and being well adapted ; dealing with games-playing mystery novelist played by Olivier leading his spouse's lover performed by Caine into diabolical trap . The original stage production of "Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer opened on Broadway on 12 November 1970. It originally starred Anthony Quayle as Andrew and Keith Baxter as Milo, ran for 1222 performances and won the 1971 Tony Award for the Best Play . This is a deliciously sardonic and witty movie and excellently starred by a magnificent protagonist duo ; both are the peak of their game in this dazzling film . This interesting movie is plenty of twists and turns and stunning surprises . Splendid and fascinating performances , a real Tour De force for two stars . Michael Caine was so very much beside himself to be working with Laurence Olivier, that he didn't even know how to address him . However , Michael Caine was the third choice for the part of Milo Tindle after Albert Finney , who was deemed too plump, and Alan Bates , who turned down the role . The film only had two stars - the rest of the cast were made-up names . In addition to Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975), only one of three films in which entire on-screen billed cast received acting Oscar nominations . Packs a jolly and adequate soundtrack , including a haunting, remarkable musical leitmotif by John Addison , who was nominated for an Oscar for his music score. Colorful cinematography by Oswald Morris as well as appropriate production design by Ken Adam . Remade many years later as ¨Sleuth¨(2007) by Kenneth Branagh starred by Jude Law and again Michael Caine as Wyke ; including modern production design and set on a stark house , monitored with high tech . However, it is inferior the first version that was a directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz, in his last film . In the similar style was subsequently filmed 'Deathtrap' by Sidney Lumet with Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon and also Michael Caine. Rating : Good, delicious from start to finish. It's a great and enjoyable fun.