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Detectives reviews + new staff review + Ferrier on Hippie casting + new affiliate

07 May 2007 at 12:18 PM | by Lilith and Melty_Girl, with Madra Rua

Investigating Detectives in the press

Cillian Murphy
Rock star: One of Neil's many personas
in Watching the Detectives

A few more reviews for Cillian's newest flick have popped up. In Variety, Jay Weissberg says it's "a long way from the sophomoric humor of other Soter-scripted titles" and highlights the lead actors' talents in bringing the film to life:

[Lucy] Liu attacks the role with gusto, using her considerable charm to keep the character from turning into an annoyance ... Plus she plays well with others, and the chemistry with the versatile Murphy undoubtedly carries the picture. He's not only got the accent right, but the physical mannerisms as well—an average, likable Joe with a movie fixation.

Screendaily, an international film marketing site, sent David D'Arcy to judge Detectives' appeal. He writes:

The comedy can play on the wish-fulfillment of its natural self-absorbed video-addict audience, which has plenty of time on its hands, and there's enough to keep them occupied for multiple rentals. Its two stars ... should also be a strong help at the box office in the US and abroad.

D'Arcy praises Cillian's performance, saying that

Murphy brings zest to his store manager's role, adding an unexpected bravado to the character who's still beaten down or fooled by Liu at every turn.

Not everyone liked Detectives, however. "As inoffensively middling as would-be quirky indie comedies get," says The Reeler's Vadim Rizov, "but its premise is extra-special annoying." Rizov holds special disdain for Liu's character, whose "stunts play like particularly cruel episodes of Punk'D." But it seems like he just didn't like the premise itself, so whatever!

A new staffer for The CillianSite presents a review

The CillianSite is thrilled to welcome our newest staff member, Madra Rua, who is joining us as News Correspondent. And she's kicking things off with her review from the premiere screening she attended last week.

Madra Rua reviews Watching the Detectives

Watching The Detectives, Paul Soter's writing and directorial debut, is a unique look at that crazy thing called love. Lucy Liu (Kill Bill Vol. 1, Lucky Number Slevin) and Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, The Wind That Shakes the Barley) star as the oddly matched couple.

The film begins when Neil (Murphy) leaves his girlfriend and devotes himself full time to Gumshoe Video, his store specializing in offbeat films. His quiet, script-quoting life is shattered the instant Violet (Liu) steps through the door. Violet's philosophy is to live life as if she's the one on screen. Stringing Neil through one movie-inspired prank after another—even inducing his suspicion about the bald men he sees everywhere in a scene that rivals North By Northwest for its sheer paranoia—Violet keeps her new beau on his toes and keeps the audience eager to see what she'll try next.

Violet's the type of woman probably voted "Most Dramatic" in high school and Liu's challenge was to keep her from turning tiresome. At times I did wonder if Violet had any notion what she was putting Neil through—when she springs yet another "just kidding" and you see Neil's face fall, you can't help but feel sorry for him. But Liu succeeds by playing Violet with a conviction and excitement that, despite my sympathies for Neil, made me eager to see what prank she'd play next.

Still, the practical jokes wear thin after a while. Neil's stamina is stronger than mine—personally I would've ditched her after the second scheme—but Neil's hooked on Violet because she reminds him of the starlets from his beloved films. He ends up hoping she'll just settle down—and as the film continues, so does the audience.

As tiresome as the whole charade might be, it's the most excitement Neil has ever had. As the straight man of the piece, Murphy's reactions are what make this film so engaging. Everyone knows someone like Neil, who lives in a small world focused on his few close friends and his store. Murphy plays this role with such a touch of naivety that when Violet walks in bringing a breath of fresh air to his otherwise mundane life, you can't help but want things to go well for him.

For Murphy's fans, Watching the Detectives is a true departure from any of his previous roles. With impeccably delivered lines and spot-on timing, it's easy to forget that he hasn't been doing comedy for years.

Paul Soter's debut offers a fresh alternative to the romantic comedy genre. Don't expect overly dramatic plot lines and acting that will make you squirm; this is no typical boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-back formula. Instead, Watching the Detectives shows relationships as they really are: awkward, chaotic, and endlessly entertaining.

Watching the Detectives was selected as part of the Tribeca Film Festival's Discovery Program, which showcases new directors. No news about whether it's been picked up for distribution yet, but you can be sure that when it does, it will be the next "must see" movie.

"Sienna who?"

Louise Ferrier was apparently less than impressed by the casting of Sienna Miller as her in Hippie Hippie Shake, according to Sydney Confidential:

"Who? You're kidding,'' was Ferrier's unenthusiastic response to the news. "I've seen her in magazines at the supermarket but I've never seen one of her films.''

Still no word on Richard Neville's reaction to the casting of Cillian as him. Good news, though, is that Hippie's director will be consulting Ferrier to help make the film more believable:

Beeban Kidron, whose key credits include behind (sic) Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, was travelling to Sydney next weekend to discuss it with her in further depth. "It is an intricate period of time to try and recapture on film, and I think the script is very important to conveying it accurately,'' Ferrier said.

New affiliate

We've just hooked up with another great Cillian site, Simply Cillian. Welcome!

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Honney
Posts: 8
Comment
qxSXfCOWfXxYyXUmCH
Reply #10 on : Fri July 08, 2011, 04:54:03
Kudos to you! I hadn't tuohght of that!
Lilith
Posts: 1
Comment
catching up ...
Reply #9 on : Tue May 08, 2007, 16:21:49
Bonnie, I agree with you -- having stars like Sienna (who I quite like) and Keira (who I definitely like) should raise his profile -- and help distribution so we can all see it. As I just blogged, the film's already won distribution for Australia and the U.K., and that's due in no small part to the stars involved.

Claudia, I'm sure being an "It" Girl varies from one country to the next, but in North America when USAToday and Fox and AskMen.com give you that title (as they have Sienna), you're pretty much in. Then again, I'm not sure if someone like Louise Ferrier (who in her day was very much an "It" Girl) would be the type to pay attention to who holds that "title" today.

Kerry, we found those photos too -- and more -- so be sure to check our gallery. It just took me a little longer to write up the blog entry because I wanted to include the other news about the film's distribution and name change. And agreed about his hair!
Last Edit: May 08, 2007, 17:29:41 by Lilith  
Kerry
Posts: 8
Comment
The Best Day...
Reply #8 on : Tue May 08, 2007, 15:28:31
from the looks of the pics on ucillian.com he's got a very Damien look (wind that shakes the barley) going on in The Best Day of our Lives film!:)yay!!
Claudia
Posts: 8
Comment
Re:
Reply #7 on : Tue May 08, 2007, 14:34:04
I am confused... I don't know how much of an IT girl Sienna is, since one's gotta ask "Sienna who?" From this side of the world, I can tell you that she's most recognized as Jude Law's EX than because of her work. For her, I hope that soon changes
Bonnie
Posts: 8
Comment
Re: WTD, Also Merit of Having an "It Girl"
Reply #6 on : Tue May 08, 2007, 09:57:47
Can't wait to find out distribution schedule for WTD so we can see Cilly in a true comedy. I'm sure he'll do better than Ralph Fiennes did when he tried this genre with Jennifer Lopez.
Although I can't understand the hoopla over Sienna Miller in general, I am glad she's in THHS b/c having an "It Girl" will raise the film's visibility, and hopefully that of our favorite Irishman.
Claudia
Posts: 8
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Re: Melty_Girl
Reply #5 on : Mon May 07, 2007, 20:46:29
I live in Peru. South America, so my guess is that IT WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A WHILE =`( However, there's an upside... I got to see Sunshine way before most of my fellow Cillian Fans who live in the U.S ;)
Nancy
Posts: 8
Comment
Re:
Reply #4 on : Mon May 07, 2007, 19:30:13
Awww, he looks so cute, and hot!, in that pic! I so can't wait to see this. It seems like the type of film that I'll enjoy more than his ohter films, which I've enjoyed as well don't get me wrong, it's just that this seems more ordinary, less intense, than his others, which is kinda more my alley. I mean sometimes I'd venture for more out there films, if they're interesting, but most of the time I don't go that far. Whatever, alls I'm sayin is CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!
Melty_Girl
Posts: 1
Comment
Re: Claudia
Reply #3 on : Mon May 07, 2007, 16:51:35
No worries, Claudia.

I'm eager to see "Watching the Detectives" too! Where do you live?
Claudia
Posts: 8
Comment
Upps... double post
Reply #2 on : Mon May 07, 2007, 16:38:32
I forgot to comment on WTD.. I'm lovin the possitive reviews. I'm really eager to see this film, and I hope I'll get to do it before I grow a beard (hope it won't be such a long wait)Also mispelled country and her in my last post... sorry
Claudia
Posts: 8
Comment
Sienna who?
Reply #1 on : Mon May 07, 2007, 16:35:49
Ha! Seems like I'm not the only one who's feelin unenthusiastic about the casting of Miss Miller. Anyway I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, since all I've seen of here is ALfie and Casanova (Factory Girl hasn't even been released in my contry)