this film be not really a remake of the 1949 obrien film ( which be excellent ) . it borrow the main premise a man have be poison and spend the rest of the film try to find his killer . but i like that the writer choose an english professor and instead of a private dick and a the protagonist . the plot be also quite original . in general and the film move along fast enough to keep you awake . but what mar this film be a strange dated quality about it ( probably due to the horrendous 80 original music score ) combine with an affected noir feel . dennis quaid grin inexplicably throughout the whole film at odd moment and but he still compel in a general way . meg ryan be fine a the student helper or love interest . when the film get sort of bad be when dex ( the prof ) meet the british bodyguard or chauffeur and their duel be pretty laughable . the bodyguard work for the rich widow ( play by lovely charlotte rampling ) and but those scene be too self consciously noir to help the film along and even though the family plot line be rather interesting . dex also keep show up at the same place and find this bodyguard and which be rather coincidental . in the latter part of the film and a man be shoot by a window and and from the outside you see him jump out of it that be pretty bad direction . but aside from some of these obvious flaw and i think it still hold ok. i certainly do not predict the end and so that be good there be a twist and and although some poster here think they be mislead and i think it be a fine and believable end . dennis quaid and with his weird smirk and black eye and be more likable in the right stuff and great ball of fire and inner space and and cold creek manor . but here a dex and he suppose to be somewhat of a jerk and so he do fine . fairly decent movie .