Secrets & Lies

Name: Secrets & Lies
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: September 27, 1996
Duration: 136 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall

1996

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 73 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 73 Ratings

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Secrets And Lies

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Movie Details & Credits

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment | Release Date: September 27, 1996 | R

Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall

Summary: A middle-aged London factory worker is shocked when the mixed-race daughter she gave up at birth decides to track her down. At first she denies she is her mother. All family members become emotional, as everyone's secrets are exposed.

Director: Mike Leigh

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 136 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TNT RoughCut Jason Puskar

A masterful mix of wit and humor, sympathy and sadness. Read full review

100

Stanley Kauffmann

Leigh, the writer, ties up things somewhat neatly and is a touch homiletic. Leigh, the director of cast and camera, is masterly. [Sept. 30, 1996]

100

Desson Thomson

Reveals itself detail by searing detail. Read full review

Film.com Tom Keogh

By creating characters from emotional wellsprings rather than concepts, Leigh thrills us with the possibilities that emerge when people are merely in the same room.

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

The ride is remarkable. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Rich in humor, pained or frolicking. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Unquestionably a finely observed, deeply felt work, though with some nagging problems in pacing and structure. Read full review

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User Reviews

ShaniceT

Dec 2, 2006

Phenomenal film! Brilliant screenplay, direction, and acting.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

itsthewife

Apr 21, 2015

awesome but predictable from the beginning if it is the wife... a true twist would it being the friend... the wife was fishy from the beginning , why is she pointing the murder weapon out to the cops and why is she always letting conelle in when the husband is the suspect...hmmm cuz she didawesome but predictable from the beginning if it is the wife... a true twist would it being the friend... the wife was fishy from the beginning , why is she pointing the murder weapon out to the cops and why is she always letting conelle in when the husband is the suspect...hmmm cuz she did it and she wants all evidence found before the truth comes out that, that was the night she found out he cheated on her with the mother of the murdered child...… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Macky

Oct 23, 2005

The Best Movie I have ever seen, PERIOD! Unbelivable acting, great story, deeply moving. If you care about people more than special effects see this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Magion

Dec 12, 2022

Rarely does a movie bring tears to my eyes, this time it did. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen. Humans are complex and act in accordance with many, even contradictory values. The needs they produce may vary, but any attempt to structure them is left wanting. TheRarely does a movie bring tears to my eyes, this time it did. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen. Humans are complex and act in accordance with many, even contradictory values. The needs they produce may vary, but any attempt to structure them is left wanting. The normally-functioning person, then, is able to access all the states at different times, and, over time, obtain all the different satisfactions that are available in these various states.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

May 4, 2016

Secrets & Lies will reveal the truth and get rid of the lies. By how exactly? That's where watching it will give you a clue. I mean, who would rather prefer speaking the truth? I do.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Jun 22, 2019

I can point out ten moments easily where the film hands over all the responsibilities to the actors, it's a breathtaking performance.

Secrets And Lies Leigh is a family man. He understands the banal relations or relatives we've all got. And he, the writer and director, Mike Leigh knows howI can point out ten moments easily where the film hands over all the responsibilities to the actors, it's a breathtaking performance.

Secrets And Lies

Leigh is a family man. He understands the banal relations or relatives we've all got. And he, the writer and director, Mike Leigh knows how to play a friendly chess with them. The primary reason I find his drama confident enough to run on only one piece of information is because he doesn't feel the need to give reasons for their behaviour. They are and will always be simpleton for that very note. Call it kryptonite or sensitivity, the hands starts to shake, voice breaks and, emotions on the surface. Leigh walks on his signature structure in script, i.e. to gather all the energy and motifs of characters and meet at a rendezvous point in its last act where he frames the entire burden of the film in the screen.

And that scene in here, is a dinner table conversation. The camera is set and ready and, the character definitely not. The scene leaves you with chills in your spine and exhilaration is defined all over again. I don't think I have ever been so exhausted after the voice turns silence in the film; for a brief period, you get to have a similar experience after Tom Cruise ends his mission in Christopher McQuarrie's Fallout. Also, whenever something beautiful, simply beautiful comes by, that leaves me happy and satisfied.

It always reminds me of Sam Mendes's American Beauty where the character is capturing varied snippets of nature. And I never thought it could be topped off by something so natural and warm. And then comes this montage of people getting their picture taken. Leigh, I think says a lot with those than he could ever with the film. This is exceptional filmmaking even for Mike Leigh, it is a whole new level. He is so rigid and strong on his views that as a viewer you are told to bend your opinions and Secrets And Lies.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ERG1008

Aug 24, 2010

Woman decides to trace her real mother after the death of her adoptive mother.
Usual Mike Leigh affair with all the grit, tension & emotion you'd expect. Pretty well acted but thought it went a bit annoying towards the end. Thought the musical score was a bit lame too & didn't really fit.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1	#1 Best Movie of 1996
38	#38 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
35	#35 Most Shared Movie of 1996