Marlowe
A world-weary private eye navigates glamorous 1930s Bay City to uncover the truth behind a wealthy heiress's missing ex-lover.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- cynical
- atmospheric
- classic noir night
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film handsome and competently cast but too conservative, sluggish, and self-conscious to make its noir mystery feel fresh.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Philip Marlowe works as a down-on-his-luck private detective pursuing a missing man through Bay City's glamorous and corrupt social world.
The late-1930s Bay City setting, private-eye protagonist, old Hollywood milieu, and dark crime investigation establish a classic noir frame.
The film centers on Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe and extends the character into a new mystery with knowing references to earlier screen traditions.
A wealthy heiress hires Marlowe to find her ex-lover, drawing him into the hidden criminal underside of Bay City's elite.
Films like Marlowe, and why
The Big Sleep
period private detective mystery with hard-boiled dialogue, corruption, and noir atmosphere
The Long Goodbye
classic noir investigation centered on a missing person, glamorous clients, and morally compromised Los Angeles
Chinatown
stylized private-eye thriller combining old hollywood glamour, violence, and cynical mystery plotting
L.A. Confidential
neo-noir detective story driven by a brooding investigator, seductive suspects, and institutional corruption
Movie Details
- Director
- Neil Jordan
- Release Date
- 2023-02-15
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (449)
Cast
- Liam Neeson
- Diane Kruger
- Jessica Lange
- Danny Huston
- Alan Cumming
- Ian Hart
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Daniela Melchior
- Patrick Muldoon
- Colm Meaney
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Marlowe about?
- A world-weary private eye navigates glamorous 1930s Bay City to uncover the truth behind a wealthy heiress's missing ex-lover.
- What is Marlowe like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Marlowe as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Marlowe violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Marlowe as moderate.
- What did critics think of Marlowe?
- Critics broadly found the film handsome and competently cast but too conservative, sluggish, and self-conscious to make its noir mystery feel fresh.
- Which films are like Marlowe?
- Films with a similar feel include The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, and L.A. Confidential.
- How long is Marlowe?
- Marlowe runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Marlowe?
- In United States, Marlowe streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
