"Dead Again"

A great, but obscure, movie is on Channel 5 tonight at 11.05 - 1.05. It stars Kenneth Branagh (he also directed) and Emma Thompson. Branagh is a private detective who takes on a case of a woman suffering from amnesia. Somehow it all becomes about reincarnation and a murder that took place in a previous life. Has an interesting twist at the end.

It's a funny movie and mildly dramatic. Robin Williams also pops up for a few scenes and Derek Jacobi is funny as a antique dealer with a sideline in past-life regression therapy (that he abuses when on the look out for family heirlooms).

Well worth watching. At least take a minute to set a tape up for it as I think it's worth seeing.

Also, fans of Dream Theatre should watch it as it's the film they ripped-off/homaged for the plot of their 1999 "Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory" concept album.

A review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910823/REVIE...

Minor Classic

Saw it when it came out and, agreed, Dead Again is a minor classic. Brannagh's always worth our support I feel, though I don't think he's ever done complete justice to himself in his work - mind you haven't seen his later stuff. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) was especially good, the interplay between Ken and Emma when they read each other's letters is nothing short a comedy classic, although credit may also be due to the playwright in question. I might be showing my age and parental status when I think ' Gosh, 11 O'Clock on TV - that's awfully late'.

PaulB | 7 July 2008 - 1:39pm

Two words

"Peter's friends". Career over.

Twangothan | 7 July 2008 - 7:24pm

I would have

to diasgree. The whole film falls apart on the casting of Branagh as a private eye. He's very unconvincing.

Johan | 8 July 2008 - 5:15am

It's a comedy

Branagh doesn't have to convince you. The comedy is more important than the drama.

LOUDspeaker | 8 July 2008 - 10:28am

Yes but

Yes but have to say I didn't think the comedy was all that great in Stephen Fry's Friends. Branagh. did a very good impression of Woody Allen in the former's Hollywood Ending. In fact he surpassed what Allen could have done in a pivotal near the end phonecall scene.

PaulB | 8 July 2008 - 1:11pm