Cinema Sleuths

By Luke Deckard & Matthew BoothTV & Film

Cinema Sleuths episodes

April 15 Case 79. NOTORIOUS (1946) | Dir Alfred Hitchcock
This week your cinematic sleuths are investigating NOTORIOUS (1946). Starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, and Leopoldine Konstantin. Written by Ben Hecht. Loosely based on the short story 'The Song of the Dragon' (1921) written by John Taintor Foote. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Mean Streets is produced by Dr Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth
Logo design by Phil Dragash
Mean Streets Theme composed by Dr Luke Deckard
1 hr 33 min
April 10 MEAN STREETS IS EVOLVING INTO CINEMA SLEUTHS ON MAY 4TH!
That's right. Big changes are happening at the offices of Deckard and Booth! Mean Streets is expanding beyond FILM NOIR to investigate the films and TV shows that define pop culture, from big hits to big misses and beyond. To do this properly, we need a new name, and given that we are your cinematic sleuths, we figured CINEMA SLEUTHS would be perfect!

You will get the same level of reviews and deep dives from us, but with a much bigger portfolio of films and shows at our disposal to interrogate!

Our rebrand will happen at the end of April, and on MAY THE FOURTH, we'll release our first official Cinema Sleuths episode, and you are in for a real treat!
We are thrilled to take our investigations to another level and hope you enjoy what we've been cooking up for you all!
2 min
April 08 Case 78. FEMME FATALE (2002) | Dir Brian De Palma | A Double-Crossing Lynchian Rival
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Brian De Palma’s Femme Fatale (2002), the stylish neo-noir thriller starring Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Rie Rasmussen, Peter Coyote, Gregg Henry and Eriq Ebouaney.
We investigate the film’s elaborate opening heist, split-screen imagery, surveillance, dream sequences, Hitchcockian influences and nonlinear storytelling, while examining De Palma’s fascination with identity and the unreliable nature of what we see.
We also explore the movie’s place within the neo-noir revival of the 1990s and early 2000s, asking whether Femme Fatale is an underrated Brian De Palma gem or an example of style overwhelming substance.

CASE FILE: FEMME FATALE (2002)
Directed by: Brian De PalmaWritten by: Brian De PalmaStarring: Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Rie Rasmussen, Peter Coyote, Gregg Henry and Eriq EbouaneyGenre: Neo-Noir / Crime / Thriller / Mystery / Heist

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Theme song by Luke Deckard
Logo by Phil Dragash

DISCLAIMER
All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.
*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
1 hr 30 min
April 08 Case 78. FEMME FATALE (2002) | Dir Brian De Palma
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is FEMME FATALE (2002). Starring Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Rie Rasmussen, Peter Coyote, Gregg Henry, and Eriq Ebouaney. Written and directed by Brian De Palma!
Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth / Edited by Luke Deckard / Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 30 min
March 18 Case 77. The Usual Suspects (1995) | Dir Bryan Singer |
This week, Cinema Sleuths is back with a special guest as we investigate Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects (1995) alongside our pal Skye, one of the masterminds and voices behind the FILM 89 podcast.

CASE FILE: THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
Directed by: Bryan SingerWritten by: Christopher McQuarrieStarring: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro and Kevin PollakGenre: Neo-Noir / Crime / Mystery / Thriller / Heist

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Theme song by Luke Deckard
Logo by Phil Dragash

DISCLAIMER
All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.
*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
1 hr 30 min
March 18 Case 77. The Usual Suspects (1995) | Dir Bryan Singer
This week we're back with a special guest! Joining your cinematic Sleuths to investigate Bryan Singers The Usual Suspects is our pal Skye, one of the masterminds and voices behind FILM 89 podcast!

THE CASE:
THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, and Pete Postelthwaite
Written by Christopher McQuarrie
Directed by Bryan Singer

CREDITS
Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Music by Luke Deckard
Logo by Phil Dragash

DISCLAIMER:
All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

1 hr 30 min
March 11 DEBRIEFED 004: YOUNG SHERLOCK | CROSS S2 | LANTERNS TRAILER REACTION and more
On this episode of Debriefed, Luke and Matt talk about various crime shows they've watched, including YOUNG SHERLOCK, CROSS, and the animated adaptation of WATCHMEN. Plus we offer our take on the LANTERNS trailer and more.
Make sure to follow your new show, CINEMA SLEUTHS, which premieres on May 4th! Don’t miss an episode. Follow us on Podbean, Apple Podcast, Spotify
1 hr 44 min
March 08 INTRODUCING CINEMA SLEUTHS! A New Podcast From Mean Streets Coming May 2026!
COMING MAY 2026!

Join Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth—hosts of Mean Streets: The Film Noir Podcast—as they expand their case load with an exciting new project: Cinema Sleuths.
Each week, we investigate the films and TV shows that define pop culture. Whether we’re reevaluating a timeless classic, reviewing the latest blockbuster, or exploring why a "dud" failed, we leave no stone unturned. Get ready for deep-dive analysis and unfiltered film talk.

Follow up on Podbean, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast!
1 min
March 04 Case 76. THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) | Charles Laughton | LOVE. HATE.
LOVE. HATE.
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter (1955), the haunting Southern gothic film noir classic starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish.
CASE FILE: THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
Directed by: Charles LaughtonWritten by: James AgeeBased on the novel: The Night of the Hunter by Davis GrubbStarring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chapin and Peter GravesGenre: Film Noir / Psychological Thriller / Horror / Southern Gothic / Crime

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Theme song by Luke Deckard
Logo by Phil Dragash

DISCLAIMER
All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.
*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
1 hr 46 min
March 04 Case 76. THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) | Dir Charles Laughton
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1955's THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chaplin, and Peter Graves. Based on the novel of the same name by Davis Grubb. Written by James Agee. Directed by Charles Laughton.
Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth / Edited by Luke Deckard / Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 46 min