The Brutal Julia Roberts Crime Drama That’ll Rip Your Heart Out

The big picture

• Secret in his eyes
  is a gut-wrenching mystery drama that shatters emotional defenses and will stay with you long after the credits roll.
• The American remake adds an amazing cast and fresh cultural context, but loses some of the symbolism and substance of the original.
• The narrative structure of the film is unconventional, but it is worth attracting a deep emotional and intellectual investment from the audience.

There are movies that gently tug at our heartstrings, and then there are those that mercilessly break down our emotional defenses. I Billy Ray's Secret in his eyesa heartbreaking mystery drama, falls squarely into the latter category. The The film is a remake of a 2009 Argentine film, which, in turn, is an adaptation of a novel. In fact, the story has gone through numerous retellings, adapted to different media and cultures. But its emotional core has always been the same. And this unchanging essence has allowed the story to remain a delicate and moving piece to be told with different characters and contexts for different times and audiences. As a result, the American version of Secret in his eyeswhich stars Julia Roberts i Nicole Kidmanhas achieved much the same while adding more in terms of an amazing cast and fresh cultural context.

What is the “secret in his eyes” about?

Secret in his eyes follows FBI detective Ray, played by Chiwetel Ejioforwhose life is turned upside down when the brutal murder of his colleague's daughter, Carolyn (Zoe Graham), leaves him haunted and unable to move on. Ray's inability to find justice has poisoned every aspect of his life for the past 13 years, but he's still determined to catch the culprit. Distressed mother and colleague Jess is played by Julia Roberts in a role that is a far cry from her usual rom-com fare. Roberts really looks like he's been grieving for the past 13 years. She is thin and has an aura of brokenness about her presence. Rounding out the trio is the ambitious district attorney, Claire, played by Nicole Kidman. She is cool, calm and eloquent as ever and is the other half of Ray's unrequited love.

The film shifts back and forth in time, filling the audience in on the past while keeping them current with events taking place in the present. Jess's daughter, Carolyn, was brutally raped, murdered and disposed of in a dumpster next to a mosque. All clues unanimously point to a man named Marzin (Joe Cole), who has been stalking Carolyn. However, it later turns out that Marzin is an FBI informant working to smoke out the terrorists after 9/11. And despite his murder confession, Marzin walks free, thanks to internal politics and rhetoric “for the greater good”.

Cut to the present, and Ray's obsessive, independent research has uncovered Marzin's whereabouts. So, get the gang together to get justice once and for all. But Ray soon learns that the case is not as simple as he thought. What follows is a layered mystery, with each new twist folding the film into strange shapes until the delicate origami finally unfolds to reveal all the folds. While the ending answers the mundane questions of what, who, and why, it burdens viewers with spiritual questions about morality, justice, and revenge. The conclusion is deeply unsettling, leaving the audience with a lingering effect long after the credits have rolled.

2015's “Secret in His Eyes” touches on American politics

The original Secret in his eyes is set against the backdrop of a politically tumultuous event in Argentina in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was a time when thousands of people disappeared without a trace, and no one dared to ask any questions. It is this unique and painful historical event that imbues the story with rich symbolism. The complicated case of rape and murder shown in the film is nothing more than a representation of countless more tragedies silenced and forgotten by the state. The political aspect of it all is not explicit, but it is a poignant reminder to those familiar with the national affliction that took place. The remake has Americanized the cultural context, setting it after the September 11 attacks. The political backdrop underlying the remade version is loud, flashy and more American. It was certainly a necessary change to Americanize the film, but unfortunately, much of the symbolism and substance has been lost.

Other than that, there are some minor changes that adjust the film to the American context and work to breathe new life into it. For example, the Argentinian version has an impressive foot chase scene in a crowded soccer stadium in the middle of a match. The American version aptly swaps football for baseball. In the original film, the victim was completely unknown to the protagonist and his team, while in the remake, the victim's death affects more because it is someone close to them. The remastered version has also trimmed its runtime, making it felt more like a fast-paced thriller rather than the original version, which is more of a slow burn.

“The Secret in Her Eyes” is emotionally raw

Very often and unceremoniously, the film jumps from one timeline to another. Initially, viewers may find this unconventional narrative a bit disorienting. The film isn't always explicit about timelines and relies heavily on the audience to pick up the clues (added wrinkles, extra strands of gray hair, etc.) and connect the dots. It's certainly a risky decision and could have been a problem for films with less intrigue. But Secret in his eyes he is confident with its strong script, compelling performances, and captivating plots, and knows that a good, well-executed story can draw emotional and intellectual investment from its audience. Not all movies are bold enough to treat audiences with the same respect. In this case, however, it was a necessary risk, as the story of the film is one that it requires deep immersion on the part of the audience to really hit the emotional chords.

And it's a risk that has paid off. Every dead end, bureaucratic obstruction, and corruption pile up to add layers of frustration to the protagonist and transfer seamlessly to the viewer. Although Ray's investigative process might be morally questionable, the audience can't stop rooting for the detective because they've grown tired of not getting satisfactory answers. The story of the film is extremely delicate: a precarious walk between romance and suspense. And this balance is achieved with the precision of a master calligrapher, each stroke of the pen recording a tale that does not compromise the integrity of any of the stories. Both romance and suspense stories carry an aura of pent-up burden that comes from holding on to unresolved trauma for too long. Ever restless detective Ray seeks redemption from his failing love life by obsessing over the cold case. It may not be the purest intention behind the pursuit of justice, but without any doubt it can be accepted that it represents a fresh, contemplative and emotionally rich story.

Secret in his eyes is available to rent on Prime Video in the US

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