Cinema Sleuths

LOVE. HATE. This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter (1955), the haunting Southern gothic film noir classic starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. CASE FILE: THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) Directed by: Charles LaughtonWritten by: James AgeeBased on the novel: The Night of the Hunter by Davis GrubbStarring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1955's THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chaplin, and Peter Graves. Based on the novel of the same name by Davis Grubb. Written by James Agee. Directed by Charles Laughton. Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth / Edited by Luke Deckard / Music by Luke Deckard

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest (2025), a modern crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera and Aubrey Joseph.   Did we need a remake of an adaptation of an Ed McBain novel? That's what we want to know!    We also dig into the movie’s connection to Kurosawa’s High and Low and Ed McBain’s original novel, asking what has...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 2025's HIGHEST 2 LOWEST! Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP ROCKY, Iifenesh Hadera, and Aubrey Joseph. Written by Alan Fox. Based on Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW, an adaptation of Ed McBain's novel KING'S RANSOM. Directed by SPIKE LEE. SOCIALS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751  X : https:/...

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Big Lebowski (1998), the endlessly quotable crime comedy, neo-noir and cult classic starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliott and David Huddleston.   CASE FILE: THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998) Directed by: Joel and Ethan CoenWritten by: Joel and Ethan CoenStarring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Busce...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1998's THE BIG LEBOWSKI! Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliot, and David Huddleston. Written and Directed by the Coen Brothers. SOCIALS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751   X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Boot...

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey (1999), the stylish neo-noir crime thriller starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzmán, Lesley Ann Warren and Barry Newman.   In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate what makes The Limey such a distinctive crime movie. We explore Terence Stamp’s extraordinary central performance, Peter Fonda’s turn as music prod...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1999's THE LIMEY. Starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzman, Lesley Ann Warren, and Barry Newman. Written by Lem Dobbs. Directed by Steven Soderbergh.   SOCIALS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751   X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC     Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth Edited...

I am the law!   This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Danny Cannon’s Judge Dredd (1995), the futuristic sci-fi action movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante and Rob Schneider. In this episode, your cinematic sleuths put Judge Dredd under the magnifying glass, investigating the film’s troubled reputation and asking why this big-budget adaptation has remained such a controver...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1995's JUDGE DREDD. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Rob Schinder, Diane Lane, and Armand Assante. Written by William WIsher Jr, Pat Mills, Michael De Luca, and Kevin O'Neill. Directed by Danny Cannon   Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751 X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC     Mean Streets is produced by Luke Dec...

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Roy Del Ruth’s The Maltese Falcon (1931), the first feature-film adaptation of the classic hard-boiled detective novel by Dashiell Hammett. In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate this often-overlooked 1931 adaptation, exploring Ricardo Cortez’s interpretation of Sam Spade, the film’s pre-Code atmosphere and Roy Del Ruth’s direction. CASE FILE: TH...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1931's THE MALTSE FALCON. Starring Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Otto Matieson, Una Merkel, and Thelma Todd. Written by Brown Holmes & Maude Fulton. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Directed by Roy Del Ruth.   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard

In our final episode of the year, Luke and special guest author James Benmore discuss Rian Johnson's latest KNIVES OUT film, WAKE UP DEAD MAN, now streaming on the killer of cinema: NETFLIX. We come in raw and hot, having just seen the film, sharing our impressions of the latest mystery.    Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth  Edited by Luke Deckard  Music by Luke Deckard Lo...

In our final episode of the year, Luke and special guest author James Benmore discuss Rian Johnson's latest KNIVES OUT film, WAKE UP DEAD MAN, now streaming on the killer of cinema: NETFLIX. We come in raw and hot, having just seen the film, sharing our impressions of the latest mystery.    Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth  Edited by Luke Deckard  Music by Luke Deckard Lo...

Happy Holidays! Luke and Matt prepare to close the case in 2025 in their second-to-last episode of the year—talking standout episodes, fielding live questions, and highlighting the films and shows that never made the show.   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth  Edited by Luke Deckard  Theme by Luke Deckard  Logo by Phil Dragash 

Happy Holidays! Luke and Matt prepare to close the case in 2025 in their second-to-last episode of the year—talking standout episodes, fielding live questions, and highlighting the films and shows that never made the show.   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth  Edited by Luke Deckard  Theme by Luke Deckard  Logo by Phil Dragash 

This week, Cinema Sleuths is joined by actor and podcaster Julian De Baker to investigate Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982), the groundbreaking neo-noir science-fiction classic starring Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer and Edward James Olmos.

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it with special guest actor/podcaster Julian De Baker! This week's case is 1982's BLADE RUNNER. Starring Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, and Edward James Olmos. Written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Based on the novel DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP by Philip K Dick. Directed by Ridley Scott.   Follow Julian on Twitter at: @juliandebacker   M...

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates David Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water (2016), the acclaimed neo-noir Western and modern crime classic starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham.

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 2016's Neo-Noir-Western: HELL OR HIGH WATER! Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, and Gil Birmingham. Written by Taylor Sheridan. Directed by David MacKenzie.   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard

This week, Cinema Sleuths is joined by Sergio Angelini from Tipping My Fedora to investigate Edward Dmytryk’s Murder, My Sweet (1944), one of the essential film noir and Raymond Chandler adaptations.   CASE FILE: MURDER, MY SWEET (1944) Directed by: Edward DmytrykWritten by: John PaxtonBased on the novel: Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond ChandlerStarring: Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne ShirleyG...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it with special guest TIPPING MY FEDORA'S Sergio Angelini! This week's case is 1944's MURDER, MY SWEET. Starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, and Anne Shirley. Written by John Paxton. Directed by Edward Dmytryk. Based on the novel FAREWELL, MY LOVELY, by Raymond Chandler!   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by...

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Bill Duke’s Deep Cover (1992), the stylish and uncompromising neo-noir crime thriller starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum. In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate Laurence Fishburne’s powerful central performance, Jeff Goldblum’s memorable turn as David Jason and Bill Duke’s direction, while exploring the film’s distinctive visual style...

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1992's DEEP COVER! Starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum. Written by Michael Tolkin and Henry Bean. Directed by Bill Duke.   Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard

This week, Cinema Sleuths is joined by special guest Phil Dragash to investigate Alan Parker’s Angel Heart (1987), the dark and disturbing neo-noir psychological horror thriller starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro and Lisa Bonet. We investigate the film’s distinctive blend of film noir, detective fiction, horror and supernatural mystery, as well as its evocative 1950s setting, grimy locations a...