‘Secret in Their Eyes’ is taut thriller with intense twist
Secret in Their Eyes is a nail-biter with fabulous performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman and their supporting cast. The three play officers of a U.S. anti-terrorism unit formed just after 9/11. They’re keeping an eye on suspicious happenings at a mosque when Roberts’ character’s daughter is murdered and her body left in a dumpster next door.
The mystery is why the murderer is never brought to justice.
Roberts again proves to have real chops when playing a heavy dramatic role; Kidman is impossible not to love and you cannot find an actor more natural and easy to watch than Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave). He more or less carries the movie.
Writer/director Billy Ray (Captain Phillips) — who bases this work on Juan Jose Campanella’s 2009 Argentinian original — bounces back and forth between past and present at break-neck speed. He packs the movie with taunts, teases and twists as he moves you toward a most difficult ending.
Considering it’s an English-version redo of a much better, and even more starkly done and shocking movie, Secret in Their Eyes is still pretty good. And unless you saw the original, you won’t be disappointed.
Secret in Their Eyes
Director: Billy Ray
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Albert Molina, Michael Kelly, Dean Norris, Zoe Graham
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, language and some violence. It’s playing at Regal’s Columbia Center 8, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 4:15 PM with the headline "‘Secret in Their Eyes’ is taut thriller with intense twist."