• Genre Crime, Drama
  • Director Billy Ray
  • Actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman
  • Where we got our copy Ster Kinekor Entertainment
  • Reviewed on DVD
  • Available on DVD, Bluray
  • Desolation Morris
  • Published May 27, 2016
  • 0 0

Rising FBI investigators Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with Claire (Nicole Kidman), their district-attorney supervisor, are suddenly torn apart following the brutal murder of Jess’ teenage daughter. Thirteen years later, after obsessively searching for the elusive killer, Ray uncovers a new lead that he is certain can permanently resolve the case and bring long-desired closure to the team. But no one is prepared for the shocking and unspeakable secret that follows.

What I thought

Based on a movie from Argentina that won an Oscar, Chiwetel Ejiofor attempts to put a new spin with some new life on a crime thriller that quite honestly required nothing.’Fixing it until it’s completely broken’ is the best way to describe this film and that’s not even mentioning the fact that Julia Roberts looks like someone who runs around in the mountains over weekends strangling deer with her bare hands for no reason.

I found this film an unneeded remake of a far superior foreign film that didn’t need remaking in the first place.

It’s absolutely star studded with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, but much like what happened when Americans decided the absolutely brilliant British film, Death At A Funeral Needed an American remake – it ended up losing the entire soul of the film along the way – Secret In Their Eyes lost steam well before it ever gets well underway.

While the film will be great if you didn’t first see the original or only read the novel, its robotic retelling of the original film just leaves you bland and blunted and to make matters worse the DVD doesn’t even come with any interesting special features or a little something extra.

This one’s definitely a rental. If you really want the fullest experience though – watch the original ‘El secreto de sus Ojos’ or read the novel.

What other people thought

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts struggle to ignite this American remake of the Oscar-winning Argentinian crime thriller. – Mark Kermode

Though it often feels more like a highly polished TV procedural than a transporting cinematic experience, ‘Secret in Their Eyes’ is a solid genre outing with unsettling topical resonance. – Sheri Linden

A foreign-language Oscar winner gets a clever but workmanlike Hollywood retooling. – Justin Chang

Nothing short of overhauling the material into something genuinely fresh could make Ray’s Secret feel essential. – A.A. Dowd

Rising FBI investigators Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with Claire (Nicole Kidman), their district-attorney supervisor, are suddenly torn apart following the brutal murder of Jess' teenage daughter. Thirteen years later, after obsessively searching for the elusive killer, Ray uncovers a new lead that he is certain can permanently resolve the case and bring long-desired closure to the team. But no one is prepared for the shocking and unspeakable secret that follows. What I thought Based on a movie from Argentina that won an Oscar, Chiwetel Ejiofor attempts to put a new spin with some new life on a crime thriller that quite honestly required nothing.'Fixing it until it's completely broken' is the best way to describe this film and that's not even mentioning the fact that Julia Roberts looks like someone who runs around in the mountains over weekends strangling deer with her bare hands for no reason. I found this film an unneeded remake of a far superior foreign film that didn't need remaking in the first place. It's absolutely star studded with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, but much like what happened when Americans decided the absolutely brilliant British film, Death At A Funeral Needed an American remake - it ended up losing the entire soul of the film along the way - Secret In Their Eyes lost steam well before it ever gets well underway. While the film will be great if you didn't first see the original or only read the novel, its robotic retelling of the original film just leaves you bland and blunted and to make matters worse the DVD doesn't even come with any interesting special features or a little something extra. This one's definitely a rental. If you really want the fullest experience though - watch the original 'El secreto de sus Ojos' or read the novel. What other people thought Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts struggle to ignite this American remake of the Oscar-winning Argentinian crime thriller. - Mark Kermode Though it often feels more like a highly polished TV procedural than a transporting cinematic experience, 'Secret in Their Eyes' is a solid genre outing with unsettling topical resonance. - Sheri Linden A foreign-language Oscar winner gets a clever but workmanlike Hollywood retooling. - Justin Chang Nothing short of overhauling the material into something genuinely fresh could make Ray’s Secret feel essential. - A.A. Dowd [taq_review] Secret In Their Eyes is currently available for purchase on DVD at all major retailers country-wide.

Movie Reviews: Secret In Their Eyes

Movie Reviews: Secret In Their Eyes

2016-05-27

Desolation Morris

One To Avoid!

Total - 3

30 3

Total

While the film will be great if you didn't first see the original or only read the novel, its robotic retelling of the original film just leaves you bland and blunted and to make matters worse the DVD doesn't even come with any interesting special features or something extra.

User Rating: 2 ( 1 votes)

3

Secret In Their Eyes is currently available for purchase on DVD at all major retailers country-wide.

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Desolation Morris

Guest Contributor - Entertainment

Werner is a strange one...he quotes a lot of things...incoherently I might add, also he reviews stuff from time to time. We still don't truly understand what he is or where he came from.

To quote him verbatim:

Make sure they see my twitter handle so I can get hookers and drugs.

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Article Tags: DVD Reviews · Film Reviews · Movie Reviews · Movies · Secret In Their Eyes · ster kinekor

Article Categories: Movie Review · Movies