I love a good crime thriller and when I heard that Russell Crowe was the lead actor in the new film ‘Sleeping Dogs’ I knew I had to watch. This Adam Cooper directed film is a twisting and turning modern day take on a noir film. The flawed narrator (Crowe) is trying to make sense of his unreliable memories in order to solve a case. It’s an adaptation of the bestselling crime novel ‘The Book of Mirrors’ by Eugen Chirovici.
The Story
Roy Freeman (Crowe) is an ex- homicide detective with a fractured memory who is forced to revisit a case he can’t remember properly. As a man on death row’s life hangs in the balance, he must piece together a series of fraught memories in order to save his life. Along the way he uncovers a sinister web of buried secrets and betrayals linking to his past.
The re- investigation shares snippets that show the death row inmate, Isaac Samuel, played by Pacharo Mzembe, is innocent. Roy just has to prove it while battling his own illness. Thanks to some cutting-edge procedures and tasks to boost his memory Roy begins piecing the puzzle together.
With only his instincts to trust, Roy faces a chilling truth – sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. This movie is a gripping and mysterious story which will keep you guessing until the surprising end.
The Cast
The film stars Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Martin Csokas, Tommy Flanagan, Thomas M. Wright and Harry Greenwood.
Russell Crowe carries this film well with his effortless acting and brooding presence. This is not the Crowe from the Gladiator movies but a confused but clever man trying to make some sense of his world. We are faced with the very real toll of alzheimers from the very first scenes and Crowe plays the role at his grizzled best.
Many scenes are told from the point of view of the beautiful Laura Baines (Karen Gillan). Her partner, Richard Finn had written an unpublished memoir about the Weider murders. Writer Richard has also died under somewhat suspicious circumstances. Laura is now key to finding out what happened on the night of the murder. Flashbacks which may or may not be reliable abound.
I loved the banter between Roy and Laura with Laura at one stage saying, “Must be one of the benefits of your condition. Can’t remember the bad times.”
Roy retorts, “Can’t remember the good times either.”
This movie is a bit of a slow burn and was at times a bit too slow for me. However, it is dark and brooding and has enough character development and twists to keep you guessing. The final scenes are powerful. Lovers of the acting prowess of Russell Crowe and those familiar with the book will find it to be a satisfying adaptation. ‘Sleeping Dogs’ is in Australian cinemas August 1.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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