What is a detective in the conventional sense? This is a genre that demonstrates the investigation of a certain incident, the circumstances surrounding it and the disclosure of the riddle itself. This statement is true both for literary works and for cinema. In the entire history of cinema, a huge number of interesting films of this genre have been shot, but which of them are the best detectives (films)? The list can be incredibly huge. However, this article has collected all the pearls of detective stories, both classic and contemporary, without forgetting about the quality series of this genre.
The pearl of Soviet cinema
The best detectives are those films in which there is a really strong twisted plot, an interesting course of events and an unexpected outcome, such films are kept in suspense throughout the viewing and leave an indelible impression after him. Classic detectives of the last century are a vivid example of this. Speaking about this genre, it is impossible not to recall the Soviet adaptation of the novels of the greatest representative of the classic detective Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series of television films entitled "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson", consisting of five parts, includes 11 episodes. And although in a modern way it can be called a series, at that time it was still a film, although it was released on TV. The brilliant play of actors Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin created images of the classic heroes of Holmes and Watson, which are very difficult to replay. These masterpieces of Soviet cinema are the best detective stories ever shot in the vastness of our country.
Classic American Cinema
American filmmakers: critics, historians and directors - also decided to determine what are the best detective films. A list of the hundred tapes in ten classic genres according to AFI was announced by well-known film figures during a performance on the CBS channel. The top ten included 4 films of the brilliant Alfred Hitchcock: “Dizziness” (1st place), “Window into the courtyard” (3rd place), “North through the northwest” (7th place) and “B in case of murder, type “M” (9th place). Also on the list were the famous “Chinatown” by Roman Polanski and “Blue Velvet” by David Lynch. Almost all films, except for the 10th place, which is occupied by the independent detective Brian Singer's “Normal Suspects” of 1995, were released before the beginning of the 90s. Therefore, modern films, which may not be a classic detective story, but no less exciting, were not included in this list, and among them there are the best detective films, at least according to the audience.
The best at the turn of the century
In American cinema, the detective genre almost always goes hand in hand with a thriller that gives the film a dynamic and tense plot. That is why the best detective thrillers got on our list. Perhaps one of the most high-quality and interesting thriller with a detective story is the film "Seven" in 1995 with the inimitable Morgan Freeman and still young Brad Pete. Two detectives are investigating a series of crimes by a murderer who believes he is the messenger of God and punishes people for mortal sins. The film is designed in gloomy colors, the plot is incredibly twisted, and the audience has a feeling of direct participation in what is happening. Another 1995 film starring Sigourney Weaver is The Simulator. A terrific action-packed thriller about a doctor of criminal psychology advising detectives investigating a series of home killings after she was attacked by a maniac. At some point, the woman realizes that the current criminal clearly follows the book that she wrote. Also classic thriller detectives are Insomnia (2002) with Al Pacino and Robin Williams and Crimson Rivers (2000) with Jean Reno.
Courtroom
Legal thrillers with a detective story - this is what surely keeps the audience in suspense in anticipation of the denouement. The confrontation between defense attorneys and prosecutors, who will decide the fate of the accused, looking for ever new facts, is always interesting, intriguing and exciting until the very last minutes of the denouement. Whose arguments are more convincing, who got to the bottom of what happened? The best detectives of this genre are two terrific films of 1996, "Time to Kill" and "Primeval Fear." Both the first and the second of them brought together a really strong cast of actors, dialogues and a masterfully twisted plot were brilliantly constructed. Thanks to the role of lawyer Jake Brigens in the film “Time to Kill,” Matthew McConaughey became a class A star, Samuel L. Jackson and Sandra Bullock harmoniously complemented the acting team. In "Primeval Fear", Richard Gere acted as a defender, and the accused young man with a split personality brilliantly performed by the then rising star Edward Norton.
The most unexpected finals
Psychological thrillers are another unit of detective stories that will definitely not leave the audience indifferent. The film with the most unpredictable ending can be safely called the Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis. One of the most interesting, extraordinary and, most importantly, unusual, but no less successful roles of Die Hard. The story of a child psychiatrist who was attacked by a former patient and later met an unusual boy can not be called classically detective, but it can undoubtedly be intriguing with a twisted plot and an incredible denouement. The best psychological thriller detective films in the genre are The Game of 1997 with Michael Douglas and The Island of the Damned of 2010 with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Old blockbuster classic
Well, of course, speaking of detective films, it is impossible not to recall the beautiful action films of the last film adaptation of Conan Doyle's works at the moment. The 2009 Sherlock Holmes and its sequel, 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, with the inimitable Robert Downey Jr. and intelligent Jude Law are the best action movies in the adventure genre. The plot is quite close to the novels of the immortal English author, but the creators and the main actor also contributed a considerable bit of humor, which gives the paintings a special character, well, and dynamic scenes definitely keep the audience in suspense.
Secrets of magic
It is always so interesting to reveal tricks, illusions, miracles, especially if they contribute to some crime. Films of this kind are always difficult to identify with any one genre: there is fiction, and a detective story, and drama, and often something else is mixed. But as for the plot, such tapes are always the best detectives. The list of films is not so long, but three paintings are worth highlighting: “The Illusionist” (2006), “Prestige” (2006) and “The Illusion of Deception” (2013). And if in the mystical drama about the illusionist Eisenheim the detective storyline is not so pronounced, then the “Illusion of Deception” is based on the investigation of a very high-profile case involving the so-called “magicians”. These three tapes are related by an enchanting plot and an unexpected ending.
The best series of detective stories: a list to date
In terms of audience love, expressed in stunning ratings, the British leader in modern television adaptation Sherlock is the absolute leader among detective series. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman created amazing images of Holmes and Watson today, which once again proves that this couple are the best detective stories in history. At the beginning of next year, a new fourth season is coming out, and the ratings of his expectations are already just off scale. This TV show is one of the most successful in the history of television. One of the most successful cable channels in the United States in 2014 released a mini-series called "True Detective." At the moment, two seasons have come out, and the actors and stories are different, because the creators decided to make this project in the form of an anthology. In the first season, Oscar-winning Matthew McConaughey took the lead, and in the second, Colin Farrell. This neo-detective detective, who also included elements of a thriller and psychological drama, received excellent reviews not only from the audience, but also from critics. The top three are completed by the series “The Mentalist”, which differs from the canons in that the main character, former psychic Patrick Jane (played by Simon Baker), can penetrate the thoughts of the suspects. In fact, there are a lot of excellent detective series, but the classics of this genre on TV remain: Colombo, Twin Peaks, Purely English Murder, Poirot and the Moonlight Detective Agency.