CB STRIKE: THE CUCKOO'S CALLING

UK, 2017, 175 minutes, Colour.
Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Elarica Johnson, Amber Anderson, Kadiff Kirwan, Bronson Webb, Brian Bovell, Tara Fitzgerald, Kerr Logan.
Directed by Michael Keilor.

The Cuckoo's Calling is the first in a television series, CB Strike, based on the novels by Robert Galbraith, the alias for Harry Potter's J.K.Rowling. The other three in the series are The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White.

The film is a very well-written, incorporating the key elements of the novels into a two hour running time. The first film, however, is a bit longer, because it fills in ineffective brief detail, the background of the central character, Cormorant Strike, alienate it son of a famous pop star, his mother having committed suicide, his being in the military, wounded in Afghanistan and losing a leg, failing in relationship with Charlotte his fiancee, setting up as a private eye in central London. It also fills in something of the background of Robin, who answers an advertisement and becomes his assistant, especially in her engagement to a man who does not approve of Strike and Robin working for him.

Tom Burke looks the part of Strike and communicates his eccentric character, his drive, his drinking, his sometimes slovenly living, but his ability to follow clues, interrogate people, draw conclusions. Holliday Grainger also fits the part of Robin particularly well, then making an odd investigative couple.

This film begins with the death of a famous model and her stepbrother asking Strike to investigate her death. Strike had known the family in the past, the difficulties, the death of one of the brothers, his boyhood friend. The plot also takes Strike into the world of modelling, shows, designer¦ It also shows the complexity of the life of the murdered woman, a woman of mixed race, adopted, finding her birth father, being blackmailed by an associate.

Eventually, there is an unexpected twist and Strike working out the complexities of how the murder was done. The films are very, very British in their tone and sometimes understatement.

1. Murder mystery? Detective work? Made for television? The writings of Robert Galbraith, JK Rowling? The adaptation of the novel for the screen?

2. Cormoran Strike, his name? Tom Burke in the role, his appearance, age, personality? The information about his rockstar father, the death of his mother? Friendship with the Bristows in the past? Service in Afghanistan, the visuals of his work, the attack, loss of his leg, the boy and his smiling reaction? His decision to be a private detective, lacking money, his rather dingy office, sleeping there, ousting his secretaries, lacking clients, his drinking, relationships, methods and skill?

3. The London settings, the office, the interiors, the area near Soho and Chinatown, the streets, the pubs? The contrast with the wealthier sections of London, the Georgian rows of homes? The contemporary hotels? His visits, the headquarters for fashion design, shops, offices? The musical score?

4. Lula, her place in fashion, race issues, crowds, partying, friends? Going home, changing, her boyfriends? The discovery of her fall and death in the street? In the flashbacks?

5. Robin, coming to Strike, the incident on the stairs and her almost falling, caught by Strike? Accepted, her work, tidying up, going to the shop to buy milk? Googling for information about Strike, the headlines and the audience learning at the same time? Her competence, interest in the work, her being engaged, the scenes with her fiance, at home, his crowding her, to control? Tidying the office, arranging the files, getting the information, assisting, uncles, accompanying Stripe, with the interviews, going to the apartment, the dress shop and trying on the dresses, the various theories? At the end of the week, her wanting to return, staying?

6. John Bristow, interviewing Strike, the least of his family, the large amount of cash, the past and Strike knowing him, his mother in the past, her illness, dying, his fussing for her? Uncle Tony, his mother's brother, rolling the family, Finance? The relationship between the two men? The story of the dead brother, riding into the quarry? Lula's death, her place in the family, being adopted after the death of the brother? The issue of alibis, meetings, the killer and the motivations, the method?

7. Strike, going to visit the house, the interview with the man in charge, the views of the flats, the surveillance footage, realising that it was two men? The discussions with Tansey, her husband, the experience of being out on the balcony, hearing the quarrel, seeing Lula for? Her relationship with Tony, the secrecy? Agreeing to meet Strike, the restaurant and Tony's warning him off? The further interviews, Rush hour and chasing her, discovering her dead? The discussions with the fashion designer? Lula's boyfriends and the interviews? The actress, her friendship with Strike, the sexual encounter? The possible suspects?

8. The manager, the information, his swimming in the pool, his collaboration?

9. The discussion with the police investigators, the verdict of suicide, Strike and the young officer, sharing information?

10. Strike, his drinking, Robert helping him, the aftermath? The morning after?

11. The visit to the shop, the gossip of the women in the shop, getting information about Lula and her friends? And the final gift of the dress for Robin?

12. Family, his character, suspicious, attitude towards John, talk to the sister, her death? Innocent?

13. Rochelle, the images of her with Lula, helping her, racial issues? Fleeing, her death, the information about the blackmail?

14. Lula, wanting her origins, getting the documents, the discovery of her father, university professor, his being interviewed, not aware? The revelation about his son, in the military, Strike interviewing him, his reaction, admitting going to the apartments, not wanting Lula's cash, being seen in the surveillance photo?

15. Strike, confronting John, explaining his method, the visit to the apartment, information about his uncle, the alibi, his uncle in Oxford, staying in the building, finding the gloves and dress, confronting Lula, blaming her for the money for her brother, pushing her out of the window? Killing Rochelle? Coming to Strike, fighting strike, his arrest?

16. Drama, style, personal stories, crime and detection?