In 1949, composer Roman Strauss is executed for the murder of his wife. In 1990s Los Angeles, a detective comes across a mute amnesiac woman who is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.
By far, my favourite film of Branagh's that he's directed. A solid mystery/thriller--the kind that's not done enough these days IMHO. Though he's certainly diversified his oeuvre recently, what with Disney remakes and even superhero films, I wish he had done a lot more like this one, rather than, high-quality as they are, a metric tonne of yet-more Shakespearean adaptations.
Kenneth Branagh's first film, HENRY V, was a critical triumph. But since it was a Shakespeare story, it is overlooked as high-brow. With DEAD AGAIN as his sophomore directorial effort, Branagh has a film for the popcorn crowd. If HENRY V was tonally like a Laurence Olivier film, DEAD AGAIN is tonally like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Filmed in 2 eras, in both color and black and white, with characters portraying multiple characters, a private eye, reincarnation, a fortune teller even a femme fatale suffering from amnesia! Obviously DEAD AGAIN is a suspense thriller of old.
The screenplay by Scott Frank - screenwriter of OUT OF SIGHT, GET SHORTY and MINORITY REPORT- is taut and exciting. Branagh's c...
Decent enough albeit convoluted as well, but I found it to be watchable and an interesting enough premise, although somewhat weird hearing Branaugh put on an American 'accent'. Nice seeing Robin Williams especially since his name isn't on the front cover. Nothing amazing but still worth checking out. 3.0/5