My Rating: 3.89/4 (aka Definitely must see)

One line summary: Based on Alan Dershowitz’s book, this is the dark story surrounding the mysterious death of Sunny von Bulow.

The Deets: I’m going into the archives for this one, and it’s worth it. I’m not sure if this is Jeremy Irons’ best performance ever, but he won the Oscar and it’s right up there. Glenn Close is also phenomenal, and she probably deserved an Oscar too (she’s number one of my list of actors who should have won an Oscar but haven’t). And then the little-known Ron Silver gives us an energized depiction of Alan Dershowitz, adding the intellectual legal dimension to the story. Director Barbet Schroeder struck gold with this complex and layered story, and he films it beautifully, washing rooms in radiant blues and keeping us guessing the entire time. They don’t make films like this anymore; it’s patient and well-paced, and without the distraction of phones, our attention is locked in and our characters forced to tell their stories, even from the grave.

Perfect for: If you’re a Jeremy Irons fan (he is at the center of the film), you like mysteries, and if you’re in the mood for a movie pre-smartphone.

Where to watch: You can rent it from your favorite streaming service.

Food pairing: I think some tea and scones (clotted cream optional) would go nicely.