MovieChat Forums > Watching the Detectives (2008) Discussion > Watching The Detectives Review

Watching The Detectives Review

posted 16 years ago by coldsteel7
3 replies | jump to latest

I noted that Watching The Detectives was a film-noir based romance comedy starring Cillian Murphy and Lucy Liu. I was familiar with Murphy from Redeye, and Batman Dark Knight. Murphy was also in Cold Mountain, a film I have not seen in it’s entirety. Murphy has not hit the big time yet, but I consider him to be a solid actor. His co-star in Watching The Detectives is Lucy Liu…what more can I say? I decided that this film couldn’t be bad. I was wrong.

Watching The Detectives was written and directed by Paul Soter. As near as I can tell, this was Soter’s Directorial debut. It is also one that I think he hopes he can forget. If it is a sign of things to come, Soter won’t be Directing for long. Watching The Detectives is touted as a comedy romance about a lonely video store owner (Murphy) with a quirky group of regulars who treat his store like a coffee shop. It is a gathering place for hard corps film buffs. An eccentric and attractive girl (Liu) shows up one day and ends up dating/taunting the video store owner in a mating ritual unknown to any culture I have ever studied. The ensuing events are meant to create comedy but really act more as an incessant irritant.

For more:

http://flickrater.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-noted-that-watching-detective s-was.html

[–] IMDbutter 16 years ago

no, it wasn't a very good movie, but that review was written with an equal amount of quality. Don't quit your day job.

[–] coldsteel7 16 years ago

I don't intend to.

[–] citizen_zensin 16 years ago

I disagree. It were a documentry or reality show it would be bad but as a low budget movie it was fine even enjoyable.

I could see how someone could dislike Violet's character, but i probably wouldn't like that person in real life. The character is an archetype seen often in romantic comedys and Lucy Liu makes it work. Her adorableness makes up for alot of the shortcomings. Frankly i can take those shortcomings as longs as Lucy Liu is around. And the supporting cast had some ppl i enjoy watching like Jason Sudekis and Callie Thorne.

It helps that i'm familiar with the quirky, doesn't have a tv girl. I've known a couple like her.

Either way i enjoyed it and will watch it again. Not the normal romantic comedy source material, interesting charcters and characterazation, and a wholly enjoyable movie.