Fri. March 4, 2016
By Gregg Shapiro
Based on the 2009 Oscar-winning foreign film, Secret In Their Eyes (STX/Universal) is one of those American remakes that simply pales in comparison to the original. Part of the problem is the complete lack of chemistry between lead actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nicole Kidman. Most of the film is set in Los Angeles, but it might as well be Antarctica, it's so chilly. Plus, while not nearly as traumatizing as Kiss without makeup, Julia Roberts playing frumpy just doesn't have any traction.
Secret In Their Eyes moves back and forth in time from the post-9/11 world of 2002 Los Angeles to the present day. While closely observing the activity in an L.A. mosque, counter-terrorism experts Ray (Ejiofor) and Jess (Roberts) and their boss Claire (a stiff Nicole Kidman) are inadvertently caught up in a devastating tragedy. Jess' daughter Carolyn (Zoe Graham) is murdered and one of the suspects is somehow connected to the mosque.
The primary force in the movie is confusion. Ray is convinced that after spending more than a dozen years searching for Carolyn's killer Marzin (Joe Cole) that he has located him. But Jess, intent on keeping Ray at a distance, knows more about Marzin's whereabouts than she cares to share. In addition to the gaping plot holes, the worst thing about Secret In Their Eyes is how surprisingly predictable it is, right down the big reveal. Blu-ray+DVD+Digital HD bonus features include an interview with Roberts, commentary by director/screenwriter Billy Ray and more.
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