this reworking of anthony shaffer classic play do not last long in cinema . have recently suffer through it on cable and i still congratulate myself for not waste money on a ticket . director kenneth branagh and writer harold pinter and and star or producer jude law delude themselves that their prestige alone could sustain this travesty through an interminable 93 minute and without the fun or class of the longer original . michael caine enhance his reputation play the second lead in the marvelous 1972 film . he now seem intent on destroy it by attempt the lead and play in that version by laurence olivier . ( both be nominate for best actor oscar and but lose to marlon brando in the godfather . ) look puffy and wash out and caine glide through the part with less depth than he display a batman butler . he have already lower himself to a guest appearance in the atrocious remake of get carter . what next alfie ii and or son of the man who would be king . but then and no one benefit from this inane adaptation by pinter and who think that frequent cursing and an added sexual angle can compensate for the absence of shaffer witty character interplay . branagh direction relies on bluish lighting and a soulless set design that wouldn not hold up in a second rate nightclub . neither the shadow nor the tight and overact close ups can help law overcome his dull screen persona . the result be a failure both a straight drama and a detective thriller and almost make you forget the purpose behind the title . fan of the original stage production ( with anthony quayle and keith baxter ) and the olivier or caine film would do well to regard this enterprise a a bad dream . the late mr shaffer and who write the 1972 screenplay and as well a hitchcock frenzy and several agatha christie adaptation and must be turn in his grave and wishing he could plan a real murder or two .