Suburbicon (2017 George Clooney)

'Is that a hint of AMOLAD, I pondered (upward shot of hospital light to breathing machine sound)? That's a definite Psycho nod, I determined (spanking scene in basement).  This is beginning to feel like Double Indemnity... He's definitely influenced by the Coens (latter scenes with bad guys and comic small bicycle).' Well, the latter might be explained by the Coens as co-writers (an eighties script, in fact) with Clooney and Heslov.

Overall good, funny and at times suspenseful in the true Hitchcock manner (e.g. the kid under the bed) - and Alexandre Desplat's music even sounds like fifties Herrmann in places. I liked the sub-plot involving the new black family, but felt the riot scene unbalanced the film, which could have done without it (though it does sort of cover the murder taking place in the house next door). But then what do I know? I didn't even realise it begins with two Julianne Moores.

The kid is played really well by Noah Jupe (oh.. from Wonder...) - Tony Espinosa good too as his new friend, though again here I'd like him to have been instrumental in helping save Noah somehow (criticisms that the two stories aren't properly integrated are fair enough). With Matt Damon, Oscar Isaac (investigator), Gary Basara (Uncle Mitch), and baddies Glenn Fleshler and Alex Hassell. Plus Karimah Westbrook and Jack Conley as a grizzled policeman.

It was shot in widescreen by Robert Elswit and edited by Stephen Mirrione. Production design by James Bissell who also worked on George's other films, and who evokes a great 1950s.