In 1930's Bay City, Clare Cavendish (Diane Kruger) hires Philip Marlowe (Liam Neeson) to investigate the disappearance of former lover, Nico Peterson (Francois Arnaud), whom she believes might still be alive somewhere. Among the suspects Detective Marlow interviews are Clare's mother, Dorothy (Jessica Lange), and a club manager, Floyd Hanson (Danny Huston).

      Based on the novel by John Banville, the screenplay by William Monahan deftly blends suspense, intrigue and thrills. The less you know about the plot beforehand, the better because there are plenty of twists and turns. Detective Marlowe doesn't trust anyone who he meets, and neither will you. Dorothy might be hiding a dark secret and so could Clare as well as Floyd and other characters introduced later on. As the plot progresses, it becomes increasingly complex and captivating without being too confusing or convoluted. Exposition is handled in a very effective way because the audience knows as much as Detective Marlowe does, for the most part. When he first meets Clare, the audience doesn't quite know what her relationship with Nico was before he went missing.

      Fortunately, screenwriter William Monahan and director Neil Jordan don't forget to ground the film in humanity by bringing some of the characters to life, so Marlowe is a noir crime thriller that's concurrently plot and character-driven. Bravo to them for trusting the audience's intelligence and emotions while keeping the narrative focused and compelling. Marlowe comes across as a tough, smart and cunning detective worth rooting for and caring about as a human being. The dynamics between him and Clare remain fascinating as the mystery unfolds. You'll also find dry humor and wit in the dialogue, so the film avoids becoming monotonous, pedestrian and lethargic. Yes, the plot does have some clichés, but so what? There's nothing inherently wrong with clichés. Many great noir films like L.A. Confidential and Chinatown use clichés. It's much more important how a film uses clichés and whether or not the beats land. In Marlowe, the beats do indeed land, even during the riveting third act that's filled with shocking surprises.

      The ensemble cast of Marlowe is terrific and helps to invigorate the film. Liam Neeson exudes plenty of charisma and panache in the role of Philip Marlowe. He's very well-cast. The same can be said for Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Danny Huston and, in a smaller, but significant roles, Alan Cumming and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Everything from the set design to the lighting, hair & make-up, and costume design are exquisite and enrich the film with style which, in turn, becomes part of the film's substance. At a running time of 1 hour and 50 minutes, Marlowe is a smart, stylish and gripping crime thriller. Liam Neeson is in top form. It's destined to be the next film noir classic.