#345 (no ads): The Unvarnished Sleuth Pt. 2: Confess, Fletch (Patreon)

Greg Mottola’s new Confess, Fletch has flown under the radar in a modern-day moviegoing landscape to which it is not particularly well-suited, but we were won over by Jon Hamm’s take on the character first portrayed by Chevy Chase, who here takes on a slacker-detective persona more reminiscent of the protagonist of Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye. We’re joined once again by longtime friend of the show and longer-time Fletch quoter Noel Murray to dissect what make this new iteration tick, before bringing Altman’s film back into the picture to consider what these protagonists share, and what distinguishes them, in their ability to enter spaces uninvited, their propensity for comedic asides meant for an audience of themselves, and the supporting cast of quirky characters who surround them. Plus, Keith offers up some follow-up viewing with his Your Next Picture Show pick, Robert Benton’s The Late Show.

Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about The Long Goodbye, Confess, Fletch, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, leaving a short voicemail at 773-234-9730, or commenting on our Patreon (patreon.com/NextPictureShow), where you can also find bonus episodes and more.

Outro music: Hank Mobley, “This I Dig of You”

Next Pairing: David Lean’s Brief Encounter and Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave