See How They Run

Rated PG-13
Starring Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Shirley
Henderson

Critical Rating: 4 ½ of 5
Austin Family Family-Friendly Rating: 4 of 5

Tom George’s old-fashioned whodunit See How They Run is a delightful kick-off to the fall movie
season. Most multiplexes are filled with either loud blockbusters or quiet indies, but this movie
feels wonderfully incongruous with most modern trends, occupying the rare space of a midbudget studio film for adults. Yes, the film’s self-awareness is a bit cloying at times, but the
movie is mostly content to give its audience a compelling Agatha Christie-style murder mystery
set in 1950s London.
See How They Run also boasts two charismatic and charming lead performances from Sam
Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan, as the mismatched inspector and constable tasked with solving the
murder of widely disliked film director Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody) during a production of
Christie’s The Mousetrap.
As is typical for films of this genre, the murderer could be any number of the people involved
with the play (and its forthcoming film adaptation) – the beleaguered screenwriter (David
Oyelowo) whose creative differences with Kopernick resulted in numerous arguments; the
philandering producer (Reece Shearsmith) whom Kopernick was blackmailing; and the real-life
British thespian Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson), who brawled with Kopernick shortly
before his death.
The real stars of the show, however, are Rockwell and Ronan, who have a charming and easygoing rapport that sustains the energy of the entire film. Ronan is bubbly and gregarious, while
Rockwell is dry and mildly annoyed; together, they make for a wonderful pair of detectives.
See How They Run feels like a film one might catch on Turner Classic Movies on a Saturday
morning, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s lively, brisk and full of vibrant
performances – all in all, a terrific time at the cinema.
The film is rated PG-13 for some mild violence. As the murder is never shown in graphic detail,
I would recommend See How They Run for ages ten and above – for families with pre-teens and
teenagers, this film makes for a very fun night out at the movies.