Today’s quick review: Secret in Their Eyes. Thirteen years after Jessica Cobb’s (Julia Roberts) daughter was raped and murdered, former FBI agent Ray Kasten (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to Los Angeles with a potential lead on Anzor Marzin (Joe Cole), the killer who escaped justice. But as Ray becomes obsessed with proving that the man he found is actually Marzin, District Attorney Claire Sloane (Nicole Kidman) tries to get him to let go of the past.
Secret in Their Eyes is a crime drama about an unresolved murder investigation. Ray, Jessica, and Claire are three friends who were working together on a counter-terrorism task force when a brutal crime tore them apart. Denied justice then, Ray is determined to see it done now, no matter what the cost. Secret in Their Eyes is a dark mystery whose story score some solid hits. However, its messy, morally ambiguous story won’t be for everyone.
Secret in Their Eyes makes for an uncomfortable watch. There are no easy answers for the characters, only guesswork and pain. Ray’s crusade has noble intentions but he becomes increasingly obsessed as Marzin eludes him. The combination of scant evidence and mounting pressure to drop the case makes each setback more painful than the last. The movie uses its story to good effect, exploring the nature of grief and the line between justice and revenge.
Still, this leads to a diffuse type of story that will not appeal to everyone. Apart from a couple of carefully chosen moments near the end, Secret in Their Eyes does not go for clean arcs. It is the sum of countless little clues and character moments rather than a clear progression from start to finish. The result is a slow-moving movie that chips away at a mystery without seeming to make progress, but does ultimately lead to a strong payout.
Secret in Their Eyes will appeal to fans of the dark, messy side of the crime genre. The movie has solid acting and a couple of strong tricks up its sleeve for anyone willing to follow the case all the way to the end. But Secret in Their Eyes is neither as thrilling, as shocking, or as tightly constructed as other movies in the genre. It is a decent pick for those interested but remains outclassed by the likes of Mystic River or Gone Baby Gone.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a slow build-up to a decent payoff.