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In 2010, the Argentinean crime thriller The Secret in Their Eyes took home the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Now, writer/director Billy Ray brings the shocking mystery to wider, more mainstream audiences with a faithful but thoughtfully tailored Hollywood remake.
Secret in Their Eyes tells a story of obsession and unsolved murder. In 2002, Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was tracking terrorists for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office when his colleagues were called in to investigate the discovery of an unidentified body near a mosque that they were watching. The victim turned out to be the daughter of Ray’s friend and colleague, Jess (Julia Roberts). But despite Ray’s efforts to find the killer, political red tape got in the way of his investigation. Thirteen years later, though, Ray believes that he’s finally tracked the killer—so he returns to his old office to find closure for his old friend.
Remakes aren’t always able to recapture the allure of the original material. They often struggle to find the right balance—to create a new and updated version while staying true to the original. But Billy Ray has done an excellent job of taking a deserving Oscar winner, reworking the characters and the context, and creating a film that’s so much more than just a watered-down Hollywood reproduction.
Secret in Their Eyes is a haunting mystery—one that slowly builds in suspense as it travels back and forth through time, tracking the killer both in 2002 and again in the present day. Though the constant time shifts can be tricky to follow, the parallel investigations are equally fascinating, revealing clues and other information at just the right times.
The cast and their characters also work together to give the remake emotional depth. Though Nicole Kidman doesn’t bring much to the film as Ray’s long-unrequited workplace love, Ejiofor gives a strong performance as the guilt-stricken investigator who’s become obsessed with finding the killer and bringing him to justice. And Julia Roberts is absolutely heartbreaking as the mother whose life has been torn apart by grief.
The new context, meanwhile, gives the remake a thoughtful—and timely—update. In the months following 9/11, Los Angeles feared that it would be the terrorists’ next target—and as Ray gets involved in this very personal case, he constantly butts heads with those who see the war on terror as the highest priority—so much so that they’ll hide information to misdirect his investigation. The ongoing struggle is so captivating, in fact, that you probably won’t see the conclusion coming. And once it comes to its end, the remake—like the original—is sure to leave you stunned and speechless.
Secret in Their Eyes isn’t a fluffy Hollywood whodunit. It’s a gripping and often brutal thriller that will stay with you long after you leave the theater. If you loved the original, you’ll be pleased by the remake. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll be in for a tense and unsettling experience.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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