Title: The White Orchid
MPAA Rating: 1 hr 22 mins
Director: Steve Anderson
Starring: Jennifer Beals, Olivia Thirlby, John Carroll Lynch
Runtime: 1 hr 22 mins

What It Is: When a mysterious murder case goes pretty much cold a shy investigator Claire (Thirlby) is given the case to try and figure out who the “White Orchid” is. This is the nickname given to an actress who was murdered, dismembered and left for dead. Now as Claire draws closer to solving the case the intrigue of it all may, perhaps, be becoming too much for the young, somewhat mousy investigator. As her normal demure demeanor begins to blend with the hypersexual nature of the women shes investigating.

What We Think: There’s a sexiness in the last two-thirds of this film that shakes up the mystery of the first third. Anderson really does a terrific job with both shot selection and the overall aesthetic of the whole thing. Olivia Thirlby is absolutely great here. Not only is she proving she can carry a film but that all those scenes she’s stolen in films like The Wackness, Dredd, and Snow Angels. If this is any indication Thirlby is going to be a leading lady hot and in demand.

Our Grade: B+, With Anderon, who we interviewed below, at the helm this film is an example of a modern noir. Its sexy vibe mixed with the mystery of a murder takes us back to the days of Bogart in a trench coat and fedora. Fitting then is it that the Bogart estate, under the mantle of Santana Pictures, produced this project. I can recommend that everyone check this particular film out when it is available to the masses, which according to Anderson should be around the fall. Lastly, I’d like to thank Steve Anderson for being so gracious with his time and speaking with us, you’re a class act sir!