“Marlowe” is a not-so-engaging film noir set in the Bay City in October of 1939. It’s based on a novel by John Banville, who also wrote Albert Nobbs (2011), The Sea (2013) and Quirke (2013), which were also turned into movies. In books by Raymond Chandler, the Marlowe character is so popular that he practically defines the gumshoe character itself. Chandler wouldn’t be so happy with his operative so weak and feckless as he is here. An aging Neeson may have been the right fit for the part several years ago, but perhaps it’s time to hang up the roles that call for him to play characters like this, where his being cast makes the story unbelievable for the audience.
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