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Dead Again
1991 107 min United States of America R 16+
★7.0
Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Trailers
Description
In 1949, composer Roman Strauss is executed for the murder of his wife. In 1990s Los Angeles, a detective comes across a mute amnesiac woman who is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$38.02M
Worldwide:
$38.02M
Starring
Kenneth Branagh
Actor
Emma Thompson
Actor
Andy Garcia
Actor
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival 1992
— Golden Bear
Golden Globe 1992
— Best Original Score
BAFTA 1992
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Dead Again is widely regarded as a stylish and engaging neo-noir thriller that skillfully blends mystery, romance, and reincarnation. While some viewers find the plot slightly convoluted, most praise Kenneth Branagh’s masterful direction and the film's effective homage to classic 1940s cinema.
| Cinematography | The cinematography and production design brilliantly evoke the aesthetic of 1940s cinema through high-contrast black-and-white flashback sequences. | |
| Screenplay | Scott Frank’s screenplay delivers a taut, intricate narrative filled with clever twists and a compelling core theme of eternal love. | |
| Score | Patrick Doyle’s musical score serves as a central atmospheric element that functions almost like a character within the film. | |
| Acting | Kenneth Branagh’s dual performance is occasionally undermined by inconsistent accents that distract from the film's immersion. | |
| Screenplay | The complex, multi-layered plot satisfies those who enjoy intricate puzzles, while others find the narrative structure to be overly convoluted. | |
| Ending | The film's climactic conclusion is viewed by some as a satisfying genre-appropriate payoff, while others find it to be an artificial, old-fashioned resolution. |