Secret in Their Eyes

STX Entertainment | Release Date: November 20, 2015

5.6	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 55 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

TVJerryNov 27, 2015

An FBI investigator (Julia Roberts in awful bangs) rushes to a murder scene, where she discovers her daughter is the victim. Thirteen years later, her partner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to re-open the case. Toss in the unrequited love betweenAn FBI investigator (Julia Roberts in awful bangs) rushes to a murder scene, where she discovers her daughter is the victim. Thirteen years later, her partner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to re-open the case. Toss in the unrequited love between him and the DA (Nicole Kidman) for some personal drama. Luckily, this trio turns in compelling performances, because the story moves slowly and without much style. Add in a few dramatic (but not totally surprising) twists and the heavy-handed approach gets even more intense. While the actors do a good job, the clunky script and overbearing bleakness of the direction render it less effective.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

DotTheEyesNov 20, 2015

Years after a tragic murder interwove their lives and careers, a prosecutor (Nicole Kidman) and two federal agents (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts) reluctantly reunite when one among them believes the elusive culprit, freed before due toYears after a tragic murder interwove their lives and careers, a prosecutor (Nicole Kidman) and two federal agents (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts) reluctantly reunite when one among them believes the elusive culprit, freed before due to thin evidence and inter-agency duplicity, has reemerged. Roberts' bid to rid herself of any movie-star glamour to instead exude ashen intensity is admirable, but too self-conscious to connect, and Kidman is so restrained and underutilized as to barely register, but Ejiofor delivers a well-calibrated portrayal of despairing tunnel vision. The depth and precision of his performance elevates Secret in Their Eyes, a sleepy and unimaginative English-language update of the award-winning Argentine crime drama of the same name. Post-9/11 anxiety proves a wan stand-in for Argentina's "Dirty War" as a historical framing device. The past-present transitions inherent to the double-pronged structure are more confusing than intriguing; it nearly becomes a two-hour-plus game of Spot the Amount of Grey in Chiwetel Ejiofor's Beard. And the twist ending, already rather contrived in the original, is more labored (and shorter on resonance) here, a too-cute sting prefaced by a montage of the heavy-handed hints interspersed throughout the rest of the film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

quincytheodoreNov 23, 2015

The stars do their best to keep the drama intact, but presentation of the thriller feels redundant and the mystery angle barely produces any excitement

From the first five minutes, Secret in Their Eyes already delivers several famousThe stars do their best to keep the drama intact, but presentation of the thriller feels redundant and the mystery angle barely produces any excitement

From the first five minutes, Secret in Their Eyes already delivers several famous faces. It's apparent that the movie invests heavily on the cast, and while they are capable, the investigation story is rather bland and barely able to draw any emotional depth. I'm well aware that it's a remake, but it shouldn't be an issue or affect it in major way, considering that the movie is of average quality regardless.

The story might seem complicated at first with the many time jumps it presents, however it's practically the same case of homicide spanning for 13 years, with minute details sprinkled here and there. The daughter of a counter-terrorist agent is murdered, the team then pursues this case with two different agendas, one is justice for the daughter and the advancement of terrorist prevention.

Despite having the backdrop of murder, terrorism and rape at the same time, the case isn't complex. It's barely the level of good television drama as the investigation is pretty fundamental and offers little shocking twist. The two timelines are quite refined as audience can easily follow the pace, albeit the repeat story angle does feel cumbersome.

This might be an analogy of wallowing on the past, say that it is, that doesn't change the monotonous tone as well as occasional far-fetch development. Fortunately, the cast holds its own. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ray is the main agent, working on the case at both time perspectives, he appears determined almost to a fault. The focus of his character is more towards drama, especially between him and his colleagues, than endearing cop procedural.

Nicole Kidman as Claire is the calmer prosecutor type, she's the love interest role on the subplot while also having some part on the case. She looks good, amazingly for older and younger version alike, a bit of resemblance to her role in The Interpreter. Julia Roberts plays the most emotional of them all, the mother of the victim. As expected she delivers the character well, especially since it's the maternal role she's familiar with.

Strangely, even with such high profile line-up, down to the supporting characters, there's low amount of thrill. The characters try to squeeze any drama they can, but the material is too sparse and it lacks the necessary tension to build a captivating mystery thriller.

It may have a couple of emotionally stirring moments due to the acting prowess, yet the presentation of the thriller feels redundant and for a nearly two hours movie, there's barely any fascination at the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

LeZeeSep 9, 2016

How long one's eyes can keep secret!

My confession is I haven't seen the original film. I had several opportunities, but for various reasons I stayed unwatched till now. Firstly, I won't consider it a remake since both the films wereHow long one's eyes can keep secret!

My confession is I haven't seen the original film. I had several opportunities, but for various reasons I stayed unwatched till now. Firstly, I won't consider it a remake since both the films were adapted from a novel. Yet no one can stop the people comparing between the two, just to find out which one is true to the book. In my perspective, I think the original source was written keeping the Argentinian society, because that dark tone narration suits them. I have seen many Argentinian films, but for the American kind of storytelling, it does not appeal. Even though it was not a bad film, I somewhat enjoyed, maybe because I haven't seen the other version.

The actors were great, but it was Chiwetel Ejiofor's film, He dominated the screenspace, and Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts were slightly disappointed with their small roles. But overall, they all made it a decent film, particularly the direction impressed me for handling neatly knowing it is already once made a film. The story was suspenseful, yet it feels familiar and lets you predict the each scene before its commencement. Yes, I thought it was holding something big for the end part, and then it gives out all clues leading that way. So I kind of assumed what the end twist might be and that happened, but a bit differently.

This kind of screenplay totally works for a Korean style filmmaking, but Hollywood is expert in a different field. Wherever it comes the film, a film is a film, so I won't blame it on a regional ground for lacking of something. But it should have been a bit better, maybe more thrilling and making the characters more stronger with emotionally appealing could have worked, particularly for a certain group of audience. If you're watching this story for the first time, then you might enjoy it, but for the other reasons you might not. Whatever, not a bad film for watching it once.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

jlittle1404Apr 2, 2016

Popular cast with two leading ladies Kidman and Roberts. Roberts gives a solid performance but Kidman wasn't to impressive. Not very suspenseful or exciting just a typical crime/drama film. A good little twist that will surprise you. ThisPopular cast with two leading ladies Kidman and Roberts. Roberts gives a solid performance but Kidman wasn't to impressive. Not very suspenseful or exciting just a typical crime/drama film. A good little twist that will surprise you. This movie is basically all about being obsessive and wanting revenge. 5 out of 10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

TeijoSep 26, 2019

Completely ruined the original versión. Horrible ending, IT simplifices thing. Go watch the original movie!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews