MURDER/MYSTERY

I have placed "sizzler ratings" next to movies to give you an idea of how good they are

	A Perfect Murder
	Cookie's Fortune
	The General's Daughter
	The Name of the Rose

A PERFECT MURDER (1998)

Starring: Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow
The plot: Taylor is a successful businessman with a beautiful young wife. However, when Taylor discovers that his wife is playing around with a con artist, he uses this to affair to lever Shaw (the lover) into killing his wife.
Comment: To satisfy the American lust for higher body counts and more action (Hithcock's "Dial M for Murder" may as well have been performed on a stage - it was all filmed in one room), the plot diverges to oblige the Hollywood audience. If one has seen the Hitchcock's original version, then the diversion become interesting as all of the clues in Hitchcock's film are negated as the plot moves to the 1990's, technology and financial markets. Ultimately though, the film is no better than Hitchcock's film.
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COOKIE'S FORTUNE (1999)

Starring: Glenn Close, Juliane Dixon, Liv Tyler, Charles S. Dutton
The plot: Cookie, an old southern belle, decides to take her life and join her husband in heaven. Unfortunately for the citizens of the quiet town of Holly Springs, Mississippi, her niece, Camille, finds Cookie before anyone else. Since Camille can't conceive of the scandel that would surround someone killing themself in her family ("only crazy people kill themselves..."), Cookie 'destroys' the suicide note. What follows is gentle southern humour as the town try to find out who the murderer really is.
Comment: Although this movie never really picks up speed, it is pleasant and warm-humoured throughout. The script is as tight and thorough as some of the recent action movies out of Britain - but the pace reflects the laid back atmosphere of summer in the Deep South of America. Charles S. Dutton is magnificent as the wrongly accused 'Willis,' and Glenn Close is equally brilliant as the 'genteel suthun belle' who bullies those around her into submission - and the clumpy masacara on the eyes is frightening at the same time as it is hilarious.
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THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (1999)

Starring: John Travolta, Madelaine Stowe, James Woods, William Cromwell
The plot: Captain Elisabeth Campbell's body is found naked and brutally attacked in a military bomb test area in MacCallum, Georgia. Military Detective Paul Brenner is called in to investigate the murder of Captain Campbell. His first stop is to give his condolences to the General. From there, Brenner and his trusty side kick, Sarah Sunhill, a rape investigator, try to find the murder before the FBI are called in.
Comment: This film romps along, in part thanks to Travolt's chameleon like ability to switch between southern charmer and yankee boy depending on who he was talking to in the film. There are also some visually shocking moments in the film (which probably caused a bit of controversy in America in this age of "Zero tolerance on violence"), but they are few and far between. Travolta really does shine in this movie, bringing up the quality of a very average plot. The only slight let down ocurred right at the end as all the clues fell into place. I felt it didn't matter how good the acting was here, the plot fell apart and didn't result in a strong ending. However, it is still an enjoyable movie and a good evening's entertainment.
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THE NAME OF THE ROSE (1998)

Starring: Sean Connery, Christian Slater
The plot: The true story of a 15th Century Franciscan monk and his disciple journeying to a remote monastery for a meeting. Just before their arrival, a bizarre murder occurs, and more people are murdered as they wait for their Franciscan brothers to arrive.
Comment: This film is only the more fascinating because it is real (based on the book of the same name translated by Umberto Eco). Sean Connery, and a very young Christian Slater, are both superb as they roam around the medieval monastery, trying to find out who is the murderer. The atmosphere of the film is enhanced by the cast of 'weirdos' and misfits that are gathered under the monastery's roof. An excellent film.
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