Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Mousetrap

Author(s): Daniel Crooke
Location: Ohio

“The Mousetrap"

Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Adapted Screenplay by: Peter Morgan
Film Editing by: Lucia Zucchetti

Principal Cast:

Rachel Weisz as Mollie Ralston
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Giles Ralston
Rupert Everett as Christopher Wren
Joan Plowright as Mrs. Boyle
Helena Bonham Carter as Ms. Casewell
Bill Nighy as Major Metcalf
Jim Broadbent as Mr. Paravicini
Johnny Depp as Sergeant Trotter

Tagline: "Three blind mice, three blind mice. See how they run...”

Synopsis: A terrible snowstorm had covered England in a deep snow.

Mollie and Giles Ralston are a young couple in a town just north of London.

MOLLIE RALSTON: Wife to Giles Ralston. A kind and simple woman.
GILES RALSTON: Husband to Mollie Ralston. A nice enough man, but with a commanding spirit.

The two had only been married a year and they had just opened "Monkswell Manor", a boarding house. On the first day of opening, they were expecting four tenants.

CHRISTOPHER WREN: A tenant. A flamboyant, hyperactive, and young male architect. Entertained easily.
MRS. BOYLE: A tenant. A grumpy old woman who finds the wrong in every aspect of Monkswell Manor.
MS. CASEWELL: A tenant. A cold and stern woman in her late twenties who seems to be hiding something.
MAJOR METCALF: A tenant. A retired army major who lacks personality besides that of a major in the army.

After the four tenants arrived, a foreign and unexpected stranger arrived at the door looking for a room.

MR. PARAVICINI: An unannounced tenant. A friendly East German man who takes nothing seriously.

Soon after everyone was settled, Mollie recieved a phone call from Scotland Yard saying they were sending a sergeant over to Monkswell Manor. Soon, the sergeant arrived.

SERGEANT TROTTER: A sergeant of Scotland Yard. Takes his job very seriously, intimidating.

Sergeant Trotter explained his reasoning of coming to Monkswell Manor. An elderly woman named Maureen Lyon had been murdered in London and Scotland Yard had determined that Monkswell Manor was not safe from the murderer. This was because the police determined that Lyon's murderer was a former foster child that she had taken care of, as well as the murderer's two other siblings. Lyon had starved the children and the youngest child died of starvation. The children were taken away from Lyon. On Lyon's body was a note saying "Three blind mice, three blind mice. This is the first mouse.". Scotland Yard found another note that had fallen out of the murderer's jacket. It had the address of Lyon's flat and of Monkswell Manor. Trotter urged the tenants and the Raltsons to speak up if they were involved in any way with the three children. He begged them to confess so he could get them to safety if they were involved. But no one said anything. Later that night, the murderer struck again. But this time, it was in Monkswell Manor. The snow continued to fall. Trotter began the interrogations of each and every person still at Monkswell Manor. Relationships were tried, trusts were broken, and when enough information was presented, Sergeant Trotter laid a trap to catch the killer before the third mouse was murdered.

What the press would say:

Legendary director and Honorary Oscar winner Sidney Lumet directs the smash mystery-drama "The Mousetrap". Adapted from Agatha Christie's brilliant play (the longest running play in the world), "The Mousetrap" proves to be one of the better adaptations in recent history. I was fortunate enough to see "The Moustrap" on London's West End and at the end of the play, you are asked to not reveal "the secret of The Mousetrap", which refers to the results of the mystery. At the end of the film, there is a black screen with "Please do not reveal the secrets of 'The Mousetrap'". Because of this request, I will try not to go much into the plot. I will say that the film is about a murderer on the loose in London with a heart full of revenge. The murderer is supposed to strike at a boarding house run by a young couple where five tenants are living. The cast and crew, with the exception of Lumet and Johnny Depp (who puts on a Scottish accent), are all British. Speaking of Johnny Depp, he gives a fantastic portrayal of Sergeant Trotter, the detective assigned to the murderer's case. Depp really gets inside of the character, plays it with complete conviction, and gives a commanding performance. Joan Plowright, once again, puts in a flawless performance. She plays an old, pessimistic, and grumpy British woman. Plowright steals every scene she is in and provides a subtle comic relief. Speaking of comic relief, Rupert Everett gives a career-best performance. He plays the flamboyant Christopher Wren and plays the part to utter perfection. What defines Everett's performance, however, is one scene between him and Rachel Weisz's character. I don't want to give away too much information, but I will say that Everett's character has a complete and utter breakdown where he explains why he is so outrageous. Not only does Everett make us laugh, but he also makes us tear up as he breaks down. But don't be misleaded by this talk of comic relief, "The Mousetrap" is a taut thriller and murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In homage to "12 Angry Men", Lumet shows, once again, that you can provide an entertaining and gripping film without much change of scenery. "The Mousetrap" is the best thriller since "The Silence of the Lambs", but it thrills in a completely different, more subtle, way. "The Mousetrap" has been cleaning up and scoring key nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG, and PGA awards and has great chances at scoring at this year's Academy Awards.

Nominations
Best Picture
Best Director- Sidney Lumet
Best Actor- Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actor- Rupert Everett
Best Supporting Actress- Joan Plowright
Best Adapted Screenplay- Peter Morgan
Best Film Editing- Lucia Zucchetti

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