Secrets & Lies

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

8.2	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 73 Ratings

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User score By date Most helpful

ShaniceTDec 2, 2006

Phenomenal film! Brilliant screenplay, direction, and acting.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

amheretojudgeJun 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. AndI 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

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ERG1008Aug 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 theWoman 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.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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itsthewifeApr 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 inawesome 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

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MackyOct 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

PatC.Jun 11, 2007

It's a struggle to follow this movie in the early going as it tracks two sets of characters who do not initially interact. Finally what is going on reveals itself. From then on, one is witness to an important story exceptionally well It's a struggle to follow this movie in the early going as it tracks two sets of characters who do not initially interact. Finally what is going on reveals itself. From then on, one is witness to an important story exceptionally well told. Upon reflection the accomplishment of this film is exemplary. The last line of spoken dialogue, filled with peace, is as perfect a masterpiece of closure as any ever committed to film. A must see for those who differentiate the best from the rest. Despite the difficult setup I cannot recommend it highly enough.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Christopher_G2Oct 12, 2014

Secrets & Lies is my favorite film from a terrific director in Mike Leigh. It's about intricate and rocky relationships evolving around a family, and at it's heart a woman finding her real mother becoming introduced into this family. It's notSecrets & Lies is my favorite film from a terrific director in Mike Leigh. It's about intricate and rocky relationships evolving around a family, and at it's heart a woman finding her real mother becoming introduced into this family. It's not just another "searching for birth parent" film, but one of real emotion and complexity. It has a host of terrific performances especially, from the great Brenda Blethyn as the mother struggling in her relations with one daughter, while coming to terms with another she never knew. This is one of my favorite films from the 1990's; just terrific!… Expand