What are some good recent movies in the "Mystery" genre?

maxwellperfect

Interesting question, and one that, perhaps, depends on what we mean by "mystery." (I've tried to tackle the subject in my "Favorite Mystery Films" thread, and it's a doozy, let me tell ya!)

I'm trying to wrack my brain to see if I've seen a single great puzzle-plot movie since The Last of Sheila ('73), which I highly recommend.

Perhaps Zero Effect ('98)? Interesting little independent movie but with some big stars: Bill Pullman as the Holmesian Daryl Zero and Ben Stiller as his not-so-loyal "Watson." I didn't find the plot all that surprising, but it's got some of the best clues I've seen in a cinematic mystery.

Speaking of great clues, The Prestige is not a mystery but acts like one: the cluing is audacious and brilliant, and the plot delightfully surprising. My vote for Nolan's best picture, by far.

Ditto for The Illusionist. Less well-clued than The Prestige, perhaps, but more of a mystery, with a brilliant variation on an old gimmick invented (as far as I know) by Israel Zangwill.

One blog I follow recommends (of all things) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Simpsons' "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" as great mysteries. After some thought, I agree with Rich (the blog owner) on the subject. Excellent cluing and fair-play, surprising plots in what are (for mysteries) unusual settings,

Hope that helps a bit!