Any film noir lover knows the names of novelist Raymond Chandler and his hardboiled detective, Philip Marlowe, go hand in hand with the film genre. And over the decades, there’s been several timeless renditions of Marlowe onscreen, from Humphrey Bogart and Dick Powell‘s seminal performances in “The Big Sleep” and “Murder, My Sweet” to Elliott Gould‘s off-beat take in 1973’s “The Long Goodbye.” Now Liam Neeson takes a crack at the character, in his 100th film role, in “Marlowe,” in theaters this Valentine’s Day weekend.
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And there’s a lot of cinematic pedigree behind this latest rendition of Marlowe. “The Crying Game” director Neil Jordan helms the film, while “The Departed” screenwriter William Monahan adapts John Banville‘s 2014 Marlowe novel “The Black-Eyed Blonde” for the big screen. The 1930s-set mystery sees Marlowe hired to find the old flame of an heiress, and gradually uncovers a much more sinister plot.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis, courtesy of Open Roads Films:
MARLOWE, a gripping noir crime thriller set in late 1930’s Los Angeles, centers around a street-wise, down on his luck detective; Philip Marlowe, played by Liam Neeson, who is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress, daughter of a well-known movie star. The disappearance unearths a web of lies, and soon Marlowe is involved in a dangerous, deadly investigation where everyone involved has something to hide.
Alongside Neeson, “Marlowe” also stars Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Danny Huston, and Alan Cumming. The film also stars Adewale Akinnouoye-Agbaje, Ian Hart, and Colm Meaney. Daniela Melchior and Francois Arnaud round out the main cast.
“I can’t imagine “Marlowe” without Liam Neeson,” said Jordan in a press statement. “But then, I can’t imagine Michael Collins without him either. Maybe you need an icon to play an icon – that said, I couldn’t feel more honored to be teaming with Liam on his 100th movie, a project we’re all incredibly proud of.”
So how will Liam Neeson’s take on Philip Marlowe rank against the legendary turns of Bogart, Powell, Robert Montgomery, and others? Find out when “Marlowe” hits theaters on February 15. Watch a trailer for the film below.
