Best of the "Whodunnit?" Genre (Part Three)

Part One Gosford Park, etcetera
Part Two The Maltese Falcon, etcetera
...and now we conclude the countdown of the best whodunnits in honor of the impending release of the all star mystery Knives Out.

by Eurocheese

2. Memento
I know Christopher Nolan isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – fair enough. Whodunnits are essentially excuses to get inside the head of a killer. To start with a murder, realize the killer can’t trust his own thoughts , and try to put together who is pulling the strings in his mind… what an impressive conceit to thrill die hard mystery fans. Disorienting the audience in every scene while cutting in clips of a paranoid, trapped man trying to piece together his memories, without giving anything away? I have to believe Agatha Christie herself would applaud the finale...

We often throw around terms like reinvented, but as far as a new approach to the genre, this film can take your breath away.

Favorite performance: As much as I love Carrie Anne-Moss' tough as nails, manipulative Natalie, the top prize has to go to Guy Pearce. An underrated actor with one hell of a resume, Pearce is front and center in every scene of the film. It requires an imaginative performer who, despite knowing where the story is heading, keeps the audience present in every scene.

Favorite scene: "Hm... I don't feel drunk..."

1. Clue
I’ve literally had this movie memorized since the 6th grade and while I probably shouldn’t admit it, it’s my favorite film of all time. The creepy mansion and colorful characters are ripe with possibilities, and every single actor takes their character to the extreme in the best possible way. If you are a true actressexual, you owe it to yourself to see the brilliant comedic trio of Eileen Brennan, Lesley Ann Warren and Madeline Kahn tear up the screen with one brilliant line reading after another, and Tim Curry’s increasingly manic performance is one for the ages. Famously bombing at the box office thanks in part to its confusing marketing strategy involving multiple endings (though what more could a whodunnit fan want?), this endlessly quotable classic is the definition of the on-screen whodunnit. At least for those of us who've memorized it, it will be the bar by which all films that follow in its genre are measured.

Favorite performance: I could easily say THE ENTIRE CAST, or the trio of ladies, but in the end it's Madeline Kahn's killer line deliveries that slay me the most.

There's of course the brilliant "flames" line she famously added herself, but then there are exchanges like this that she delivers flawlessly:

MUSTARD: How many husbands have you had?

WHITE: Mine, or other women's?

MUSTARD: Yours!

WHITE: Five.

MUSTARD: Five?!

WHITE: Yes, just the five. Husbands should be like Kleenex - soft, strong and disposable.

Favorite scene: Can't pick one! The dinner scene, Mrs. Peacock screaming about the brandy, splitting up to search the house, putting on a show for the cop ("These people are just having a good time!"), the singing telegram girl, Wadsworth's increasingly insane explanation of the night, his use of Mr. Green as Boddy's stand in ("Will you STOP THAT?" "No."), "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," and each of the hilarious endings. Even the site of all the characters running down the Hall to their next clue might qualify. Clue is pure joy throughout.

 

Runners Up To the Whodunnit List
(No, we didn't forget about them!)

• Death on the Nile (1978). The best Agatha Christie adaptation, with an incredible star-studded actressy cast (Bette Davis! Angela Lansbury! Mia Farrow!)
• In the Heat of the Night (1967). The only qualifying Best Picture winner. And it has much more than the mystery on its mind.
• LA Confidential (1997). Curtis Hanson and great cast and crew look under the hood of the classic noir
• Laura (1944) A classic has more than a few tricks up its sleeve
• The Scream films (enjoy them all, but the 1996 first is the best)
• Zodiac (2007). This sprawling reality based serial killer hunt is David Fincher at his finest. 

Which films in this genre do you love most know that you've seen all my choices? 

Comments

[Criticoenserio]

Do upset that “Murder by death” is not in the list

[Tom G.]

And my question from the last post is answered.

[eurocheese]

Criticoenserio, I enjoy Murder By Death quite a bit but not as much as the films listed. I would recommend it, no question. As far as its concern with the actual answer to the mystery, though, it's more of a straight send up comedy than a whodunit to me. BUT I know I stretched the definition already, so let me unofficially add it as a Runner Up. :)

[Jaragon]

Who made this list?!- "Murder by Death" is ten times better whodunnit than "Clue" . I watch it recently and was reminded how unfunny it all is . And "Memento" is not a whodunnit either

[markgordonuk]

Redeemed by an inspired no 1 choice,I'm partial to Mrs Peacock's "Don't you touch me" line to a random bit of piping.

[Faye Dunaway]

Clue?!! Are you kidding? I think you don't have a clue!

[Dolemite]

I challenge anyone to guess whodunit in these 3 classics: Black Widow (1954), Witness For the Prosecution (1957), Still of the Night (1982) - I never could. Can you dig it?

[César Gaytán]

I really enjoyed that series-list, I prefer lists that not include "must" choices and has a more open and personal criteria, thanks Eurocheese.

I love Memento for the narrative structure and surprising end, however i don´t love particularly any performance from it.

As i mentioned before my favorite whodunnit movie is Tesis by Alejandro Amenábar and i LOVE the performance of Fele Martinez.

Here is my choices:
Tesis
Terkel in Trouble
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Memento
L.A. Confidential
Drowning Mona
Gosford Park

[Jaragon]

Rene Clair's "And The There Were None" (1945) perhaps the best version of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"

[Daphne]

"The Mirror Crack'd" (1980): completely fooled by whodunit...fun flick.

[Cash]

Without even looking, I guarantee you that Madeline Kahn gave a better performance in Clue than half the best supporting actress nominees of that year.

[ParadiseLaust]

Not everyone's reading with no resume and critiquing with no credentials.

[adri]

Thanks for a fun trio of posts.
It’s an inventive way to get us in the mood for a new movie.

[Laquisha]

I disagree with Faye Dunaway/3rtful Castleman esquire. Clue is great and nowadays is actually considered a fairly cool and acceptable answer to favorite film in many circles.

[Faye Dunaway]

Laquisha, dear

I have nothing to do with commenters 3rthful/Joan Castleman. Thank you.

[Laquisha]

Sure, Jan.

[NATHANIEL R]

i love CLUE too. I have such special memories of seeing it in the theaters. Yes i went three times to see all the endings.

But i also love MURDER BY DEATH and had forgotten all about it until these comments so thanks for the reminder. I haven't seen so many of these in so long... probably because mysteries and whodunnits arent my favourite genres. but a good film is a good film regardless of genre.

[Jaragon]

Not even the great Madeline Khan can save "Clue" from being a crappy unfunny movie

[Claran]

Guy Pierce in Momento is still my fav male performance in 2001. Sad tt he nev get award recognition for this mesmerising turn.

The twist at the end is totally mind fxxking when i 1st watched it. This is when i knew a new singular talent i.e. Nolan is born.

[Jakey]

As a mystery, I think SCREAM 2 is superior. Perhaps it’s because of the scene with Randy and Dewey trying to figure out who the suspects are, or that we don’t know if Cotton Weary is trustworthy or not (and he would certainly have a motive!) There’s also the weird thing about it being a copycat killer with the names of the victims, but then that gets dropped.

[mikenewq]

Agree 100 with Jakey! Love that the Scream films got a mention, tho!

[Fadhil]

MURDER ON THE FREAKING ORIENT EXPRESS THE ORIGINAL