23. The Secret in their eyes (4/5)

I got this movie from Sir Ricky’s house again. I heard about this movie from different people, and all of them think that the movie is greatI heard that this movie won the best foreign movie for 2009. I am excited to watch it!

Ok, kill me now… but as I am watching the movie… I doubted if I was really watching the right movie. The front cover was in another language, so I can’t help but hesitate. I don’t love the movie, I like it, but not so head over heels about it.

The movie is about Benjamin Esposito, and how his heart desire to give justice to the Morales case he worked on during his younger years. This movie actually reminds me of Memories of Murder, a Korean movie I had included for the challenge. It has the same plot, the investigative similar plot, even the same feeling of the protagonist, empathizing to the victims after all the years because of an unsolved case.  The big difference is that on “The Secrets in their Eyes”, they know who the criminal is, but in spite it, they cannot fully get justice and have the criminal get its rightful punishment. 

I guess the movie lacks a good soundtrack.  It may again boils down to MY PREFERENCE… but they could have made the audience feel the emotions of the character more. I am also not convinced that Esposito is in love with his superior. I really do not feel he loves her. They should have focused on that, like placed a great music background on it or something. I don’t mean to be sappy, but it lacks that emotional element. I feel the same way with the criminal over the girl he raped and killed. I think it is the director’s fault. They should have short moments, even just to show facial expression, or great emotions.

Waaaaah, am I UBERLY thinking like a Soap Opera writer already? I think not. It just boils to my preference. I told this to Ate Shawe, and I said to her that I love Vera Drake more than this movie. She thinks that the movie Vera Drake is so simple--- but for me Vera Drake is a very good movie.

I love the realness of the story. Funny, there is a little bit of nudity scene. I didn’t expect that, but it is a great scene. The scene I am talking about is the scene wherein the women tested the criminal’s pride, and manhood. This was done effectively as the criminal can’t resist but save his pride over his clean name.

I also love the ending, it was awesome, but then—sad because again, I am not convinced that Esposito is in love with the girl. What I also love about this movie is that even though the movie played with time, the story is clear and not confusing. It is well written, KUDOS!  It is very clean, no mess, no loop holes—with my dumb mind, I easily understood the story in spite its complexity.

I need to also comment on the script about passion: IT IS HELLA GREAT! But I don’t know if it is the delivery, it feels empty—but the words are great. If I am reading a book I think it will make a mark on me better. Another thing—about the eyes... it is a very, very great idea but it feels lacking again!

(WHO AM I TO REACT LIKE THIS? FEELS LIKE I AM really AN ASPIRING DIRECTOR, not a writer! But I believe writing is the corest of the core. I WANT TO BE A GOOD WRITER! IT IS A NEED! It is the core of all learning if you want to be a filmmaker J)


4/5 for this movie!