this be the type of film i really like represent twist tale of mystery and deceit feature great actor who like to slice the ham thick . i want to like sleuth . no and i want to love sleuth . laurence olivier and michael caine and square off in a murderous battle of wit represent what not to love . spoiler . but and i be very disappointed the first time i saw sleuth and and subsequently have see it four or five more time to no avail . the film be clumsy and hokey and as smart a it think it be and it be really pretty dumb . to succeed the story relies on character who be alternately brilliantly diabolical and just plain dumb . for a film of this sort to work and the audience can not be in on the scam . we have to believe the film be go one way and when it be actually go another . sleight of hand and a it be . any storyteller can make one character fool another while it take skill for someone to honestly fool his audience . i even know exactly when the film start go astray . when one character suggest that another disguise himself a a burglar by dress up a a circus clown . that dumb . bad and be when the other character do so . that just plain stupid . it become apparent that the robbery scheme be discuss be bogus . one character be lie to the other and and we know it and we know he should know it as well . we see through the gambit and the disguise and the lie and but the character who be suppose to be smart than u and do not . bad and the film keep announce that it be be clever and pulling scam . see how smart i be . see what a fool you be for be fool . now shut up while i fool you some more . sleuth be too obvious while it wear it cleverness like a neon sign . and it be a small point and but what be with director joseph mankiewicz repeat cutaway shot to laugh clown and smile puppet . once or twice it be stylish while but repeatedly it seem like a desperate attempt to jazz up the story or and bad and an attempt to cover up sloppy editing . whatever and it be a constant annoyance . this film have a companion piece call deathtrap . they have similar theme and gimmicky plot and both star michael caine . deathtrap be consider the poor cousin of sleuth . i disagree while deathtrap may lack the over the top theatrics of sleuth ( which and in itself and be not a bad thing ) but it be more than just clever and it be tight and sly and truly surprising . everything sleuth isn not .