The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) (2010)
93%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
53 wins & 43 nominations total
Unpredictable and rich with symbolism, this Argentinian murder mystery lives up to its Oscar with an engrossing plot, Juan Jose Campanella’s assured direction, and mesmerizing performances from its cast.
The Secret in Their Eyes” is like a rollercoaster ride, but not the kind that makes you scream in terror. It’s more like the kiddie coaster at the fair – not too deep, but still a fun time. The movie could have used more Eva and Juan Peron, but hey, you can’t have everything. The acting is top-notch, especially Ricardo Darín’s performance. And the cinematography? Enamoring. Overall, it’s a well-made and well-acted movie with a sinewy sense of history. Plus, it’s destined to become a world cinema classic. So grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Estación Retiro, Retiro, Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for a rape scene, violent images, some graphic nudity and language
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 7m
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Language(s):Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 16, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 21, 2010
Genre(s)
Crime/Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $35,079,650
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,686,803
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,354
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,200,306
US/Canada gross: $6,391,436
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,688,432
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,661
US/Canada opening weekend: $167,866
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $228,195
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,615
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,718,773
Production budget ranking: 1,991
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,464,059
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $43,503,971
ROI to date (est.): 1,040%
ROI ranking: 115
– Ricardo Darín as Benjamín Esposito
– Soledad Villamil as Irene Menéndez Hastings
– Carla Quevedo as Liliana Coloto
– Pablo Rago as Ricardo Morales
– Javier Godino as Isidoro Gómez
– Guillermo Francella as Pablo Sandoval
– Director: Juan José Campanella
– Producers: Mariela Besuievski, Juan José Campanella, Gerardo Herrero
– Writers: Juan José Campanella, Eduardo Sacheri
Director(s)
Juan José Campanella
Writer(s)
Juan José Campanella, Eduardo Sacheri
Producer(s)
Mariela Besuievski, Juan José Campanella, Gerardo Herrero
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
53 wins & 43 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (140) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (15)
More of Eva and Juan Peron and the impact of fascism on the society would have added to the movie. Nevertheless, it is a good ride, but not a great one.
January 13, 2018
Ed Koch
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This decade-hopping, tone-shifting mystery-thriller-romance from Argentina is about as deep as a kiddie pool, which isn’t to say it’s an unpleasant frolic.
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Keith Uhlich
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Darín’s central performance is a consummate lesson in minimalist acting, deftly bypassing the tropes of the clichéd romantic lead and the crusading good guy.
August 17, 2010
Maria M. Delgado
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A supremely watchable, well-made and well-acted movie with a dark, sinewy sense of history…
August 13, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A stylish and intelligent Argentine offering — destined to become a world cinema classic.
August 13, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Clemmy Manzo
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
While the logistics and cinematography are entirely enamoring it is the interiority of these characters that draws us with such intent…
September 9, 2021 | Rating: 96/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
A memorable film from writer/director Juan Jose Campanella.
September 22, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Just like Sweden’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the makers of this film seem to confuse high art and police procedural.
August 5, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
The film’s bifurcated structure is the most interesting thing about Secret In Their Eyes, but it can’t save the incredibly ham handed script.
January 10, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
For all its drama, it feels painfully forced and trite, as dour and dull as it is unfocused.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
An interesting treatise on the notion of ardency and the nobility of longstanding, ungratified love, plus a sly critique of the malleability of justice in ’70s Argentina.
January 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro…
Plot
In 1999, retired Argentinian federal justice agent Benjamín Espósito is writing a novel, using an old closed case as the source material. That case is the brutal rape and murder of Liliana Coloto. In addition to seeing the extreme grief of the victim’s husband Ricardo Morales, Benjamín, his assistant Pablo Sandoval, and newly hired department chief Irene Menéndez-Hastings were personally affected by the case as Benjamín and Pablo tracked the killer, hence the reason why the unsatisfactory ending to the case has always bothered him. Despite the department already having two other suspects, Benjamín and Pablo ultimately were certain that a man named Isidoro Gómez is the real killer. Although he is aware that historical accuracy is not paramount for the novel, the process of revisiting the case is more an issue of closure for him. He tries to speak to the key players in the case, most specifically Irene, who still works in the justice department and who he has always been attracted to but never pursued due to the differences in their ages and social classes. The other issue is that Gómez is still at large, no one aware if he is alive or dead. But as Pablo at the time mentioned that passion is one thing that cannot be changed in behavior, Benjamín learns now that that premise still holds true.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
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