Cinema Sleuths

By Luke Deckard & Matthew BoothTV & Film

Cinema Sleuths episodes

February 18 Case 75. HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (2025) | A Spike Lee Dud?
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest (2025), a modern crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera and Aubrey Joseph.

Did we need a remake of an adaptation of an Ed McBain novel? That's what we want to know!

We also dig into the movie’s connection to Kurosawa’s High and Low and Ed McBain’s original novel, asking what has changed, what remains and whether this new interpretation brings something genuinely fresh to the story.
CASE FILE: HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (2025)
Directed by: Spike LeeWritten by: Alan FoxBased on: High and Low by Akira Kurosawa and Ed McBain’s novel King’s RansomStarring: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera and Aubrey JosephGenre: Crime / Thriller / Neo-Noir / Mystery / Drama

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 23 min
February 18 Case 75. HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (2025) | Dir Spike Lee
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 2025's HIGHEST 2 LOWEST! Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP ROCKY, Iifenesh Hadera, and Aubrey Joseph. Written by Alan Fox. Based on Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW, an adaptation of Ed McBain's novel KING'S RANSOM. Directed by SPIKE LEE.
SOCIALS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751
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Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth/ Edited by Luke Deckard / Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 23 min
February 04 Case 74. THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998) | Dir Coen Brothers | Stoner-Noir At Its Best
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Big Lebowski (1998), the endlessly quotable crime comedy, neo-noir and cult classic starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliott and David Huddleston.

CASE FILE: THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan CoenWritten by: Joel and Ethan CoenStarring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliott and David HuddlestonGenre: Neo-Noir / Crime / Comedy / Mystery / Cult Classic

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 35 min
February 04 Case 74. THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998) | Dir Coen Brothers
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1998's THE BIG LEBOWSKI! Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliot, and David Huddleston. Written and Directed by the Coen Brothers.
SOCIALS
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751
X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC

Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth / Edited by Luke Deckard / Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 35 min
January 21 Case 73. THE LIMEY (1999) | Steven Soderbergh |
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey (1999), the stylish neo-noir crime thriller starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzmán, Lesley Ann Warren and Barry Newman.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate what makes The Limey such a distinctive crime movie. We explore Terence Stamp’s extraordinary central performance, Peter Fonda’s turn as music producer Terry Valentine and Soderbergh’s unconventional approach to storytelling.

We examine the film’s non-linear editing, fragmented flashbacks, dreamlike structure and visual style, while exploring its themes of grief, revenge, ageing, memory and identity.
We also look at the film’s fascinating connections to classic British gangster movies and ask whether The Limey is one of the most underrated neo-noirs of the 1990s.

CASE FILE: THE LIMEY (1999)
Directed by: Steven SoderberghWritten by: Lem DobbsStarring: Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzmán, Lesley Ann Warren and Barry NewmanGenre: Neo-Noir / Crime / Revenge Thriller / Mystery / Drama

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 20 min
January 21 Case 73. THE LIMEY (1999) | Dir Steven Soderbergh
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1999's THE LIMEY. Starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzman, Lesley Ann Warren, and Barry Newman. Written by Lem Dobbs. Directed by Steven Soderbergh.

SOCIALS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751
X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC

Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 20 min
January 14 Case 72. JUDGE DREDD (1995) | Dir Danny Cannon | WE ARE THE LAW!
I am the law!

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Danny Cannon’s Judge Dredd (1995), the futuristic sci-fi action movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante and Rob Schneider.
In this episode, your cinematic sleuths put Judge Dredd under the magnifying glass, investigating the film’s troubled reputation and asking why this big-budget adaptation has remained such a controversial entry in the history of comic-book movies.

CASE FILE: JUDGE DREDD (1995)
Directed by: Danny CannonWritten by: William Wisher Jr., Pat Mills, Michael De Luca and Kevin O’NeillBased on: The Judge Dredd comic strip created by John Wagner and Carlos EzquerraStarring: Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante and Rob SchneiderGenre: Science Fiction / Action / Dystopian / Comic Book / 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 29 min
January 14 Case 72. JUDGE DREDD (1995) | Dir Danny Cannon
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1995's JUDGE DREDD. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Rob Schinder, Diane Lane, and Armand Assante. Written by William WIsher Jr, Pat Mills, Michael De Luca, and Kevin O'Neill. Directed by Danny Cannon

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575259333751
X : https://x.com/MeanStreetsPC

Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth
Edited by Luke Deckard
Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 29 min
January 07 Case 71. THE MALTESE FALCON (1931) | Dir Roy Del Ruth | Better Than Bogart?
This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Roy Del Ruth’s The Maltese Falcon (1931), the first feature-film adaptation of the classic hard-boiled detective novel by Dashiell Hammett.
In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate this often-overlooked 1931 adaptation, exploring Ricardo Cortez’s interpretation of Sam Spade, the film’s pre-Code atmosphere and Roy Del Ruth’s direction.
CASE FILE: THE MALTESE FALCON (1931)
Directed by: Roy Del RuthWritten by: Brown Holmes and Maude FultonBased on the novel: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell HammettStarring: Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Otto Matieson, Una Merkel and Thelma ToddGenre: Mystery / Crime / Detective / Pre-Code / Hard-Boiled

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 19 min
January 07 Case 71. THE MALTESE FALCON (1931) | Dir Roy Del Ruth
Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is 1931's THE MALTSE FALCON. Starring Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Otto Matieson, Una Merkel, and Thelma Todd. Written by Brown Holmes & Maude Fulton. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Directed by Roy Del Ruth.

Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth.
Edited by Luke Deckard
Music by Luke Deckard
1 hr 19 min