A Revlock Review: SECRET IN THEIR EYES
Gripping Yet Absurd
By Tinsel &Tine Contributor Mikhail Revlock
Secret in Their Eyes is easily
the most preposterous film I have reviewed for Tinsel & Tine,
outranking RunAll Night and even Beyondthe Reach. It is a film in which detectives look for a
suspect in Dodger Stadium and find him in the first section they
search. It is a film in which a self-published comic book is held up
as incriminating evidence. It is a film in which Julia Roberts crawls
into a dumpster, curls up beside her slain daughter, and weeps
profusely as Chiwetel Ejiofor slowly backs away.
the most preposterous film I have reviewed for Tinsel & Tine,
outranking RunAll Night and even Beyondthe Reach. It is a film in which detectives look for a
suspect in Dodger Stadium and find him in the first section they
search. It is a film in which a self-published comic book is held up
as incriminating evidence. It is a film in which Julia Roberts crawls
into a dumpster, curls up beside her slain daughter, and weeps
profusely as Chiwetel Ejiofor slowly backs away.
A remake of the
Oscar-Winning (and less awkwardly titled) El Secreto de Sus Ojos,
this retelling revolves around the efforts of Ray (Ejiofor), Jess
(Roberts), and Claire (Nicole Kidman) to find and punish the murderer
of Jess’s daughter. It ping-pongs, often clumsily, in True
Detective fashion, between the past and present. The effect is
initially jarring and disorienting, but one eventually gets
accustomed to it and starts reflexively searching each scene for
indicators of time period, including hairstyles, clothing, and
anthrax scaremongers.
Oscar-Winning (and less awkwardly titled) El Secreto de Sus Ojos,
this retelling revolves around the efforts of Ray (Ejiofor), Jess
(Roberts), and Claire (Nicole Kidman) to find and punish the murderer
of Jess’s daughter. It ping-pongs, often clumsily, in True
Detective fashion, between the past and present. The effect is
initially jarring and disorienting, but one eventually gets
accustomed to it and starts reflexively searching each scene for
indicators of time period, including hairstyles, clothing, and
anthrax scaremongers.
Hair and Make-up seems to have focused
most of their energies on making Roberts look as dowdy as possible.
Her messy hair and sallow skin convey the cumulative weight of her
daughter’s death. This is the kind of starkly unglamorous role one
typically associates with Charlize Theron, and Roberts lacks the
acting muscles to disappear into the character. Instead one feels
like Roberts is playing ugly dress-up. It feels almost cruel,
especially when Kidman, playing a district attorney, is furnished
with a host of flattering angles and outfits.
most of their energies on making Roberts look as dowdy as possible.
Her messy hair and sallow skin convey the cumulative weight of her
daughter’s death. This is the kind of starkly unglamorous role one
typically associates with Charlize Theron, and Roberts lacks the
acting muscles to disappear into the character. Instead one feels
like Roberts is playing ugly dress-up. It feels almost cruel,
especially when Kidman, playing a district attorney, is furnished
with a host of flattering angles and outfits.
Secret in Their Eyes is not
without entertainment value, and I found myself becoming immersed in
the plot even as its contrived mechanics became more evident. (I
confess that even though I had to pee for the greater part of the
film’s runtime, I stayed rooted to my seat for fear of missing a
critical plot element.) The chase scene in Dodger Stadium is briskly
shot and exciting, and the subsequent interrogation scene is fraught
with psychosexual tension. In a mystery, it is all about the
distribution of information. The solution is rarely mind-blowing, but
as long as the clues keep coming at a steady clip the puzzle remains
engaging.
without entertainment value, and I found myself becoming immersed in
the plot even as its contrived mechanics became more evident. (I
confess that even though I had to pee for the greater part of the
film’s runtime, I stayed rooted to my seat for fear of missing a
critical plot element.) The chase scene in Dodger Stadium is briskly
shot and exciting, and the subsequent interrogation scene is fraught
with psychosexual tension. In a mystery, it is all about the
distribution of information. The solution is rarely mind-blowing, but
as long as the clues keep coming at a steady clip the puzzle remains
engaging.
Billy Ray, the writer-director of
Secret in Their Eyes, is a seasoned screenwriter, so it’s no
surprise that the script is the strongest aspect of the film.
Although he has directed a couple good films, he hasn’t sat in the
director’s chair in eight years, and his rustiness is all too
apparent. The actors seem ill at ease with one another, and Ejiofer
and Kidman fail to generate any sparks even though they are supposed
to be secretly in love with one another. The final product lacks a
distinctive style and feels akin to an episode of Law & Order.
And while the conclusion provides a refreshingly logical spin on the
outmoded twist ending, the preceding scenes are too disjointed and
bland to be redeemed by a somewhat shocking finale.
Secret in Their Eyes, is a seasoned screenwriter, so it’s no
surprise that the script is the strongest aspect of the film.
Although he has directed a couple good films, he hasn’t sat in the
director’s chair in eight years, and his rustiness is all too
apparent. The actors seem ill at ease with one another, and Ejiofer
and Kidman fail to generate any sparks even though they are supposed
to be secretly in love with one another. The final product lacks a
distinctive style and feels akin to an episode of Law & Order.
And while the conclusion provides a refreshingly logical spin on the
outmoded twist ending, the preceding scenes are too disjointed and
bland to be redeemed by a somewhat shocking finale.
LAMB Score: 2.5 outta 5
Mikhail Revlock is a freelance journalist and fiction writer. His hobbies include bicycles, books, and food. A Philadelphia native, he lives in University City with his girlfriend and two cats. Be sure to check out past contributions: Interviews: “Dear White People” director Justin Simien and Kevin MacDonald “Black Sea”. Reviews: Room Sicario “American Sniper”, “Beyond the Reach”, “Run All Night”, “Horrible Bosses” “Jupiter Ascending” Event: Insidious Chapter 3 4 D Experience
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