See How They Run

This is one of the cleverest murder mysteries to hit the big screen. That's because, as it tells you how a whodunit works while you're simultaneously trying to solve a whodunit, it makes your brain soar into super-active thinking. And yet, you'll still never guess who did it. The project's genesis stems from the realization of why one of Christie's most successful works -- the play The Mousetrap -- was never adapted into a film. Notable producer John Woolf (The African Queen, Oliver!) had secured the rights, but there was one limiting clause: "production can begin six months after the play closes." And it so happens that The Mousetrap has played in the West End continuously since 1952, so production has never been viable. Jumping off from that point, the film starts in 1953, shortly after the contract was signed, when those involved assumed it would eventually close. Woolf (Reece Shearsmith), his screenwriter, and his director are in London naively getting their pre-production underway, only to have the theater production interrupted by its own murder mystery.

Because of this setup, viewers will realize that the characters are intentionally "types," like "the world-weary detective" and "the female rookie." But they're made three-dimensional through fantastic writing, excellent performances, and top-notch direction and editing. Having real life icons Attenborough and Christie as characters adds to the fun, as well as to the mystery. Could a real-life famous actor be the killer? In many ways it feels like director Tom George has created the most exciting fan fiction of all time, a smart comedy, and a master class in creative writing all in one.