Secret in Their Eyes

This remake was a welcome punch to the gut I couldn't help but be moderately impressed by

You just keep waiting for it to take flight, for some clue as to why these talented people are spinning their wheels with such subpar material.

The original picture's melodramatic excesses have been augmented with fresh indulgences to deliver a film that is not quite peculiar enough to be interesting.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's new movie is a mess. Even the title - why are there more eyes than secrets? - induces brain ache.

Tme and again the drama spirals into cliched foolishness and rule-bending procedural pastiche from which only a typically engrossing turn by Ejiofor can save it.

Two great performances squandered in a silly misfire.

The remake, however watchable and solidly made it may be, doesn't explore its themes thoroughly.

The most interesting case in Secret in Their Eyes isn't the murder case but the case the film makes for not remaking perfectly good Oscar winners.

Even the far superior (but still flawed) Argentine original leans too heavily on a clever twist ending.

There are certainly good elements here, but they don't add up to an engaging whole.