Clive Owen has not always had the best roles available in the last decade, but select moments throughout the 21st century have earned him the praise he deserves. He’s no longer believable as an action star, so his acting chops get fully put on display in recent appearances, and Monsieur Spade, though lesser known, ends up being his highest-profile star turn of late. A frequent highlight of this expansive neo-noir, Owen’s acting, plus some good craftsmanship from Scott Frank (Godless, The Queen’s Gambit), make Monsieur Spade worth your time.
‘Monsieur Spade’ Premise
Sam Spade (made famous by Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal in The Maltese Falcon) has retired from private investigating to the French countryside after stumbling upon a quaint town with Brigid O’Shaughnessy’s daughter in tow. While in his 60s, Spade ends up in the middle of a dangerous conflict involving an old undesirable he clashed with years ago, ultimately spiraling out of control with a military and government conspiracy.
‘Monsieur Spade’s Dark, Twisty Narrative
The Maltese Falcon-connected setup may establish Spade’s connection to his future stay in Bozouls, but Monsieur Spade lives in a separate world from that 1940s classic. This miniseries feels closer to the “aging professional” archetype, featuring a man who either cannot stop his old job or pursues a newfound purpose. In this case, it’s both, and the sentimental purpose holds things together while the story charges into wild territory.
Even with only six episodes, it can be a little slow in pacing, but an exciting finale that brings everyone together feels satisfying enough, even with flaws in the wrap-up. Tying together tensions from the Algerian War, the layers that Monsieur Spade slowly seeps in keep twisting events up, somewhat earning their inclusion with tense character exchanges referencing the conflict.
Still from ‘Monsieur Spade’ / Prime Video
Not Everyone Will Get a Kick Out of ‘Monsieur Spade’
Aside from background on the heyday of Spade, Monsieur Spade has nothing to do with The Maltese Falcon. Regardless, anyone who has seen that classic masterwork will undoubtedly feel the weight of its shadow over this new series. It certainly begs for comparison despite attempts to distance the projects, but escaping one of the seminal noir tales without changing genres is just short of impossible.
Furthermore, Monsieur Spade lacks the grip of better-received sequels like Blade Runner 2049 and Top Gun: Maverick, both of which similarly follow old storylines with new material but ratchet up the excitement. Though the series is still relatively tight and thrilling throughout, perhaps further cohesion in the narrative through a film might have made the results even better, especially considering the couple of loose threads with supporting characters.
Select viewers and critics have already hailed Monsieur Spade as one of the year’s best series, but it will not live up to those heights for viewers looking for an entirely captivating experience. This miniseries has plenty of merit (namely a solid, breezy take on neo-noir and the deeper geopolitical aspect), but even the intricacies are ultimately forgettable here. Even if it does not rank highly on your end-of-the-year list, Monsieur Spade is perfect for binging after you watch the early top shows of 2024. And who knows? It may be a surprise favorite.
Monsieur Spade is streaming now on Prime Video.
