The Agent (1999)

Like the Hitchcock film Rope, this mystery about the murder of a ruthless pro-sports agent is told in a series of very long takes, protracted monologues by prime suspects who seem bent on criticizing the excesses of the industry instead of finding out whodunit. George V. Higgins' casual, throwaway treatment of flammable topics, like the macho victim's closet homosexuality, gives the story an edge. Still, one yearns for more personal detail and drama; despite their clever speeches, the characters don't linger in your mind. The Agent is less a novel than a running commentary on the sports biz. B-