The Secret in Their Eyes (2010)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

A retired court investigator in Buenos Aires revisits a vexing crime from the past. Romance, thrills, action, flashbacks, hijinx ensue.

Best DVD we've rented in a long time.

[batmagadanleadoff]

If you still have the DVD, and can spare a few hours, I recommend a second viewing. The Secret is especially one of those movies where you pick up key elements the second time around. (2009 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film)

[batmagadanleadoff]

Roger Ebert (4 stars) still can't figure out how the soccer stadium sequence was filmed.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That shot was super cool.

Starts with a blimp-eye view of a massive soccer stadium at night, swoops right onto the grass to film a game being played and up again through level after level of fans, finally finding the characters in their seats. Amazin. And they follow that up with a different kind of thrill, where a bad guy is chased out of the park level by level.

The movie was also funny, sad and profound. Really, go get it.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'll have to view the soccer sequence again. If I recall, I think that most of the sequence was done in one take -- no camera cuts.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That's what it looked like. I felt like there had to be some kind of computer magic to make it happen, but I was ok with that; I admired mainly for the imagination behind it.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The bar scene where one of the court clerks displays his friend's fanaticism for the Racing Club reminded me of the crew on this forum.

[Edgy MD]

This has a rape scene in the opening. Are they going to keep flashing back on it?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

No.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Just watch the movie, ok?

[Edgy MD]

I can't. I have a rape scene-averse date. What can I say?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's like 45 seconds out of a 2-hour movie. It's a love story tell her!

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy DC wrote: I can't. I have a rape scene-averse date. What can I say?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It's like 45 seconds out of a 2-hour movie. It's a love story tell her!

What can he say? It's a minor miracle that he can ever say anything what with his mouth jammed full of arguments that other people keep on sticking in there.

[Edgy MD]

Oh, grow up.

[Guest sharpie]

Ocho.

Liked it a lot.

My wife is averse to rape scenes too but made it through this one ok.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

sharpie wrote: Ocho. Liked it a lot. My wife is averse to rape scenes too but made it through this one ok.

Considering the whole movie is about justice for the pictured crime, it's hardly an unnecessary exploitation. The only other nudity in the film is a guy's dingus.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Wow. Sneaks up on you, that one. There's, like, four different movies in there.

Has anyone seen anything else of the writer-director Campanella's work?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Has anyone seen anything else of the writer-director Campanella's work?

Ooooh. I did! I did! Son of the Bride (2001) was an excessively maudlin though well acted movie, also nominated for best Foreign Movie of the Year and also starring Ricardo Darin. Campanella's resume also includes several American TV directing credits (House, Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit). I think I'll cue up the DVD-ola for another viewing of Secret.