It might be time to revisit the last Argentinian winner of the Oscae which triumphed over an absurdly strong Foreign Language Film shortlist in 2009. For those still smarting from the losses of Un Prophete and The White Ribbon, bad news: The Argentinian film could be coming back for more Oscars.
Not really.
Sort of.
It's been remade for English language marketplaces as Secret In Their Eyes. And though extremely mainstream genres like murder thrillers generally don't pique Oscar's interest (unless there's the patina of class via subtitles or world class filmmakers behind the camera) you never know. Though we generally disdain remakes of foreign films -- we can read so who needs 'em? -- they've cast three very watchable actors as the central trio: Chiwetel Ejiofor in the Ricardo Darin role, and Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman as the women in his life / workplace.
Let's break down the trailer after the jump...
YES
- Chiwetel Ejiofor deserves headlining gigs. Nice to see him front and center. He's such a strong screen presence.
- The early triangulated set-up in the office between Julia, Chiwetel, and Nicole looks promising for star chemistry sparks
- Julia's intensity and the genre suggested a welcome mix of her late career skill and aggressive screen persona with her early career ease and sympathy within the thriller genre in The Pelican Brief. (Remember that scene where the car blew up and the emotions swirled all over her face?)
- Nicole Kidman doesn't get any great moments in the trailer but I...uh... respond well to her as you know.
MAYBE SO
- Here's the thing. Why does every super-charged exciting shot come from the same scene. That elevator scene plays really amazingly in trailer form. But I hope this movie has other dramatic (non violent) jolts.
- I know it's a remake so "spoilers" are a different concern but still... do you really wanna cover that much of the movie in the trailer? Everyone will feel like they've already seen it. Which is already a danger with remakes.
- I'm curious about Billy Ray in the director's chair. I liked Shattered Glass (2003) but his movies seem to be stuck at that Breach (2007) level where people seem to like them well enough but they don't stick. Will the third time be the charm?
NO
- I have to say that while they're changing genders of main characters why not change the murder victim to a man? I'm so sick of the cinema's obsession with dead girls. Enough. It's so nauseously obvious that the cinema loves to brutalize young women.
- What could this really bring to the table that wasn't there before?
- Who approved those bangs on Julia?
Here's the trailer if you missed it. I'm a 'yes' purely on the cast though otherwise I feel I could take it or leave it. You?