“When you become an actor, you want to be in a movie like this”: Diane Kruger and Neil Jordan on Marlowe at Marrakech Film Festival

For his 100^th film, action veteran Liam Neeson has far from rested on his laurels. Working with Irish filmmaker, screenwriter and novelist Neil Jordan (Interview with a Vampire, The Crying Game, Mona Lisa, Greta), he’s returned to the much-portrayed character of private eye Philip Marlowe, as previously taken on by the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Dick Powell, Robert Mitchum, Elliot Gould and James Caan. And this is no straightforward adaptation of Raymond Chandler, but rather a few stages removed, taking as its source material The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville; written under the pen name Benjamin Black, the crime novel is a sequel to Chandler’s The Long Goodbye.

The result? A stunningly immersive, stylish, seductive neo-noir thriller that impeccably recreates old Hollywood through incredible costumes and set design, with the 1939 LA underworld conjured from the streets of modern-day Barcelona, and plenty of world-weary detectives and femme fatales puffing from cigarette holders. Diane Kruger and the legendary Jessica Lange invoke the latter as an electric blonde bombshell mother/daughter pair. Viewers can expect to be transported to the era and taken on an intricately woven mystery that will keep them on their toes until the closing scenes.

The Upcoming joined the red carpet for the premiere of the film at the Marrakech Film Festival. Kruger spoke to us about why she wanted to take on the role of Clare of Cavendish, and how much she loved making the film.

The director explained why he was motivated to adapt the story and gave us some insight into working with Kruger and Neeson.

We also had a further in-depth chat with the director about the making of the film and his career so far.

Sarah Bradbury

Marlowe is released in cinemas and on Sky Cinema on 17^th March 2023. Watch our interviews from the London premiere here.

Watch the trailer for Marlowe here: