The Secret in Their Eyes - A-

Rated R for language, violence, and nudity.
In Spanish, 129 minutes, On DVD and Blu-ray.

This Argentinian film was a surprise Foreign Language Oscar winner last March (over The White Ribbon) since the ceremony preceded its US theatrical release. In 1999, Benjamin, a former federal investigator (Ricardo Darin) is trying to write a novel and each attempt leads him back to an unresolved rape-and-murder case from the mid-70s. He finds his ex-boss (Soledad Villamil) who has since become a federal judge - and for whom he had an unrequited love. She encourages him to solve the case and write the novel so he can move on with his life. The film cross-cuts back and forth from the original and the current investigations . . .

And in doing so, it expertly shows how people deal with the past, how the past affects the present, and how one year (or one day, or one moment) can define someone's life. The sacrifices people make and changing priorities are also effectively explored. The film is humorous and quietly accomplished for the first hour but begins to really take off during a barroom speech by Benjamin's alcoholic partner. He describes a core thing that each person has in common - a singular "passion" that, if you discover and acknowledge, can help you understand that individual. This is immediately followed by an audacious uninterrupted 5 minute (partially CG'd) shot at a soccer game.The murky morality and political double-crossings add to the complexity of the film. Argentinian native Juan Jose Campanella has spent the last decade directing American TV (Law & Order, House, and even a 30 Rock episode). All that diversity and experience seems to help Campanella's complex direction here. He makes connections between unrelated characters visually (with their eyes or by placing them in similar location within the frame). He creates motifs (like opened and closed doors) that work on both literal and symbolic levels. He makes the longish running time worth it with consistent humor and drawing great performances out of everyone. The film could have very easily drifted into melodrama but the authenticity of the characters will have you evaluating your own past. The film is a fascinating technical exercise and an engrossing, occasionally tense, thriller, but it's the subtextual elements that will stick with you - especially if you have a few years in the bank. A-

HEADS UP!: There is full frontal male nudity, but it's the second most appropriate use ever (next to Boogie Nights).