Homicide

Directed by David Mamet, Homicide follows a detective (Joe Mantegna’s Bobby Gold) as he finds himself drawn into a possible conspiracy after an elderly Jewish woman is murdered. Filmmaker Mamet, working from his own screenplay, delivers a slow-moving endeavor that never quite becomes the searing, engrossing drama one might’ve anticipated, with the arms-length atmosphere perpetuated by a sluggish, dialogue-heavy first half that dulls the impact of its positive attributes – which is a shame, to say the least, given that the movie boasts Mamet’s expectedly stirring dialogue and a thoroughly engrossing lead performance by Mantegna. It’s clear, however, that Homicide remains perfectly watchable for the duration of its appropriately brisk running time, as Bobby’s investigation into the aforementioned murder, which eventually goes in unpredictable and thoroughly surprising directions, paves the way for a comparatively enthralling third act that ensures the picture ends on a stirring, satisfying note – with the final result a woefully erratic Mamet effort that generally feels like it could (and should) be much, much better.

**1/2 out of ****