SECRET IN THIER EYES

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Link corrected 12Feb16 
Copy upgraded to BlueRay

REVIEWED

This movie definitely has star power with Ejiofor, Kidman and Roberts. It would not miss the target that far even if it did with the heavyweights in this. Its not an action movie thou there were shootings, punching and chasing, the scenes are mere essential and not to thrill you. Anyway those are brief ones but nicely done. The production is good with frequent flashbacks between current and what happened 12 years ago when 911 had just happened.

Acting....

Expect acting from heavy weights and you are not disappointed. NK got the least heavy acting but she did the best she could on the parts her charms was required. Still a babe in this one. Good to see her in modern times rather than the 30's in "Queen of the Desert". JR on the other hand is no more a babe. Definitely she was in character with less or no make up. But her acting was effective as expected very intense and absorbed in some scenes. CE as good as always and his part was not wasted. He sure looks like a guy with 13 years of regrets and revenge.

Thou this was done ok, the flashback between present and 12 years back got me confuse at times. Your que for the flashback is not film discoloration or frame effects but just on their hairs - receding, different style and white hairs. There's no indication when the scene changes timeline. Its your intelligence to switch or stitch between the two timeline. Not too difficult but if you dont concentrate it may spoil your focus on the film.

The story is based from a book and some sort of a remake from a foreign film. So hard for the director to get creative with the story line but stick it as it is.

The movie can be draggy at time but good acting save the day. Stay till the end when you expect everything was already over. Whats reveal can be a surprise on what the hell did happen ?

You will be disappointed if you hope this is a cop thriller movie. Its a fine drama needing concentration to watch and not get confuse.

THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMPSON

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REVIEWED

This is a British film with Robert Carlye and Ema Thompson. Ray Winstone is also quite a familiar place in the British film circles.

Dont expect much out of this film except that its a directorial debut by RC. He was quite an actor in his younger days when he played one of James Bond's main villain and also was in Monty Phyton. ET on the other hand is already an established Hollywood actress and in this film she simply was unrecognizable being Barney's mother. Definitely using prostrate to make her aged physique. But good actor when playing a part well is convincing to be somebody's aged mother.

Barney Thomson is a man seem to be running out of luck. So many "tragedies" befallen over him that you may wonder how the story would end. It has comedy and mystery but kind of slow paced. But do wait till its over because the end was something unexpected bringing the movie out of being below average.

Of course some of the things happening you might question like why bringing corpse into your flat located many floors up. And why trying to dispose of corpse so far into the country side.

RC might be too old for the part. Its more glaring when he was a mummy's boy still single and uncertain of his future. A younger actor could fit the part better thou he did make up to look younger. So when ET look older and kind of fit the part, it still not right as RC looked still looked older. 

If you are used to see US's cops movie you will be bored to witness how slow and woody the British police is operating. They even need permission to carry guns ?

See this movie when you need a change of fast pace over the top American cop movie.

Chicago PD

I like some Dick Wolf's TV series. At present and downloadable are Chicago PD and Law and Order SUV. But the other 2 which i had dropped and dont intend to follow was Chicago fire and Chicago MED. Not that they are bad but perhaps i dont have the time to follow em.
Just watched season2 e2 of CPD about a child serial killer. Had this kind of plot somewhere else or similiar but its still good to watch this one.
On a certain note - Lady running. In this episode quite some scenes where Brugess need to run and she can sure run like an athletic policewoman should. Bravo. Some lady running can be sexy ya.

Crossing lines

This is a comeback from season 1 with entirely new cast. Dont think i can remember season 1. Donald Sutherland role getting more significant in this season. David Fitcher is gone. The guy from Extant is part of the team now and doing very well. Sit thru the movie nicely and will keep on watching.