User Reviews

If you haven't seen "El Segreto de sus ojos" I beg you to stop reading and go check it out, it is, in my opinion, one of those rare and pure thrillers that keeps you glued to the screen for two hours. Yet, despite loving the original, I wasn't going into this one ready to bitch about it. I am someone who is very sniffy about remakes, but hey if you have an fascinating premise that can be explored through various styles and dynamics I am all for it. Especially in this case, I think that keeping some of the core material and turning other parts completely around could have made for a fascinating narrative, unfortunately the American remake, with the exception of maybe two or three ides, doesn't improve, explore or further the original in anyway and sometimes even edges the shot-by-shot remake treatment.

Look, this isn't a terrible thriller, but the emotional beats you are carried through are just the same of the original, it really seemed to be watching a cheap version of it. It is way too reminiscent of the original and at some moments I really felt exactly when I saw it. Whilst at other moments I kind of felt sorry for the remake because it doesn't manage to replicate some of the amazing photography the first one had and actually miserably fails: this film has some really, noticeably cheap cinematography and editing.

The performances are all kind of off beat. Julia Roberts is definitely the best one, even though she also has some low points. The rest of the cast is just flat honestly. Nobody even tries to come in and give it some palpable passion. The film is also inconsistent with tone and I am not sure they understood the fascination of the original because a lot of the focus points are just sidelined or shoehorned in.

That's also a real bummer, because the film does have just a couple of good ideas that aren't simply built on. They tread too much of the same ground and do it in a way that is simply too familiar. I can maybe think of one thing that was improved upon and that is mainly thanks to Julia Roberts' talent. The score is something that positively sticks out and probably the purest good thing to come out of the film.

In the end we are treated to a fine thriller that doesn't live up to its potential and only manages to justify its length thanks to memories of the original and the same emotions instead of relevant improvement and originality.

"Secret in Their Eyes" is a dark remake of the excellent Oscar winner "El secreto de sus ojos" (2009). The story of the Argentinian-Spanish film is magnificent and the cast of "Secret in Their Eyes" is top-notch. Despite the confused screenplay, the result is a film not comparable to the original but worthwhile watching. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Olhos da Justiça" ("Eyes of the Justice")

Having read all the negative and Luke warm reviews, it was with some trepidation that I we went to see this film, now I haven't seen the Argentine original, but I did enjoy this one! Kept my interest the whole time, all the leads were strong and believable, never a big Julia Roberts fan, she was outstanding in this, I certainly don't agree with the reviewers that said Nicole Kidman was miscast, I thought she was excellent, you don't get to be an A grade Academy Award winner by being a bad actress! Perhaps it's not as good as the original are they ever? But it stands on it's own, and would be in my top ten for this year ,not that it has a lot to beat? Far as I could tell, everyone in the theater enjoyed it! Hey! It's a movie, not brain surgery!

Secret in their eyes (2015) is a pretty well made film, it's definitely well acted, great performances by all the cast including: Julie Roberts, Chiwetel, and Nicole Kidman, they all have very real powerful performances. The script is pretty good, not the best ever, but it works. The characters are well written too. The tense scenes and situations throughout really made this film, the mystery of not knowing certain things really keeps you interested too. I can without a doubt say that the actors performances were my favorite part of this film, they were just so amazing here! And the ending was my other favorite part, the ending is very clever and unexpected, or at least I didn't see it coming, which is awesome, because anyone who knows me knows how much I love a good surprise ending to a film. 7/10 for Secrets in their eyes.

The story takes place switching back and forth between two time periods. In 2002, Ray Kasten (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jessica Cobb (Julia Roberts) are investigators in L.A. Claire Sloane (Nicole Kidman) is the new lawyer in the D.A.'s office. D.A. Martin Morales (Alfred Molina) is obsessed with uncovering a plot in a mosque under investigation. Jessica's murdered daughter Carolyn is found near the mosque. Ray quickly zeroes in on car thief Marzin who turns out to be the confidential informer inside the mosque. Ray finds Morales blocking his effort. Thirty years after the case somehow got buried, Ray returns claiming to have found Marzin by visually checking each inmate and that Marzin has just recently let out of prison. He asks Claire who is now the D.A. to reopen the case.

This is an adaptation of an Argentinian Oscar winner. Most criticism seems to indicate that this is too much the same as the original. While I cannot forget the memorable ending of the original, I think it's a mistake to punish this movie for repeating it. There are also plenty of changes from the original. The addition of the 9/11 paranoia is very compelling and logical. Putting Julia Roberts inside the investigation has the advantage of showcasing her in a strip-down unglamorous performance. This movie has great actors doing good work. I would like more compelling evidence against Marzin during the original investigation. The interrogation results in him blurting out "what she got" but that's not really enough. He needs to lay out the whole case for it to be convincing. Some may prefer more ambivalence in his guilt but I think this movie needs it to be more decisive. There are also convenient moments like Ray catching Marzin in a Dodgers game. The story is not perfect but I really like the actors.

Hollywood has done it again! They have taken a successful and well made foreign film and produced a second rate theatrical release that has failed to create an impact that would be considered worthy of being mentioned in the same breathe as the original. The only thing that has saved Director Billy Ray's remake is the wealth of talent that he has been able to bring along for the ride. With a cast of prominent Oscar winners involved, 'Secret in their Eyes' should have been much more than what it ended up being - a struggling thriller that failed to boil.

I must admit that I am not familiar with the 2009 release of the Argentinian Oscar winning film, 'El secreto de sus ojos' so it would be unfair of me to directly compare the two but by all reports it is a thoroughly recommended thriller worthy of the accolades that it received at the time of its release. Because of its undoubted success, the wise and powerful elite from Movieland, felt compelled to make an English version that has been rewritten for the mass market but has forgotten one important lesson; big names doesn't mean great chemistry. In saying this though, the names of Roberts and Kidman do get the average punter to the box office and into the cinema. With very little time spent on marketing, a film like this is going to rely on the talent at hand but also must live up to expectations put upon it. Sadly it just lacked the atmosphere that puts the audience into a suspended trance whilst being on the edge of their seat.

'Secret in their Eyes' centres around a trio of characters that have their lives changed forever following a harrowing crime. Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts) are young investigators attached to an FBI task force based in Los Angeles not long after the tragic events of 9/11. Their main purpose is to weed out any threats of terrorism that might have a detrimental effect on the citizens of the city. Ray and Jess along with the rest of the task force have been focusing on a mosque that could be harbouring such extremist cells. The new assistant to the District Attorney, Claire (Nicole Kidman) has caught the eye of Ray and a very confusing courtship follows until an unforgettable incident happens in a garage next to the mosque that they have all been investigating. Thirteen years pass and the trio of Ray, Jess and Claire are reunited. Ray is now in private security, Jess is still with the Fed's and Claire is now the District Attorney of L.A. The events of the past have haunted all three but with Ray's determination, he relentlessly pursues the case that had such a disastrous affect on him personally, hoping for justice and to right the wrongs of the past.

'Secret in their Eyes' had such potential but it was let down by a story that cannot keep a constant flow. The narrative keeps moving back and forth from the past to the present without building any real tension. Billy Ray gives the audience too much credit in thinking that they are following the events presented to them and on many occasions you could be forgiven for being confused about which time line the film is actually in.

Roberts and Ejiofor are quite brilliant in their delivery of characters that are torn apart by a tragic event. Both are thoroughly convincing in their roles, fully engaged and manage to give the film some aspect of authenticity. It just goes to show how good these two actors really are. They are able to bring a solid performance to a narrative that lacks any evidence of a 'wow factor'. Unfortunately, Nicole Kidman cannot enjoy the same positive review for her performance. This is an actor that for too long has been over rated and her lack of skill and emotion comes to the surface alongside two outstanding craftspeople. Kidman struggles to look real. Her presence doesn't have any genuine warmth about it, and because of this, many scenes involving her character do seem a little overworked. Her relationship with Ejiofor's character, Ray, was supposed to create an atmosphere that would compliment the film on a whole. Instead, Ray and Claire seemed lifeless together and the courtship quickly became unrealistic.

All in all, 'Secret in their Eyes' is average without being anything special. Argentina's 'El secreto de sus ojos' will feel safe in knowing that it is by far the more superior version. Billy Ray's film simply is void of thrills and chemistry and without them the film suffers to find a pulse. At 111 minutes, viewers will be glad that it doesn't drag on more than it has to but if you want to see how brilliant actors are able to deliver rousing performances on a less than thrilling script then 'Secret in their Eyes' could be a fine example.

Hollywood loves to remake foreign language films and it's at it again with an Argentinian film that was made only six years ago. The Secret in Their Eyes received the Best Foreign Language Oscar but there's no chance for this production to be even nominated in any Oscar categories. I haven't seen the original so I can't compare the two movies but knowing Hollywood's track record with remakes, the Argentinian version would have been a superior production.

In 2002, a team of FBI investigators including Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts) along with a newly arrived district attorney, Claire (Nicole Kidman), are based in Los Angeles to prevent terrorists from inflicting more damage to the American way of life after 9/11 the previous year. The agency receives a call about an incident that has taken place in the vicinity of a mosque. Thinking this is terror-related they make the grim discovery of a murdered young lady who just so happens to be Jess' daughter, Carolyn (Zoe Graham). The agents make an arrest but the man is released as he is a snitch for the FBI, providing names of terrorists to the organization. For 13 years, Ray logs onto the criminal database and eventually finds the man who might have been responsible for Carolyn's death. Will justice be served after 13 years?

The main problem with the story is the ridiculous number of flashbacks throughout the whole film. There are even flashbacks within flashbacks. The flow of the narrative is constantly interrupted and there are occasions where you have to think when the story is being set. As for the story itself, it is rather lacking in thrills which takes away the dramatic impact of the whole situation. This is rarely edge of your seat material which is a shame as the story should lend itself to a tense and dramatic thriller. 

What the story does well is provide character interactions and depict why people act and behave the way they do. If you are after a character study then you will be happier with the development of the story. For characterizations to excel you need actors who you can empathize with. Ejiofor is the main star and he performs with distinction while Roberts doesn't have as many scenes but she is excellent in conveying her emotions. Kidman is overshadowed by her counterparts but still manages to bring her character to life. Dean Norris as FBI agent Bumpy Willis brings some humor to his role, ensuring that the tone of the story isn't dour for the whole film. Alfred Molina has several scene- stealing scenes as District Attorney Martin Morales.

A movie with two Oscar winning actresses and an Oscar nominated actor should have been better than this. Here is a definite case of the trailer being more exciting than the film itself. The final product only provides a fraction of what the intriguing premise had to offer.  http://mlaimlai2.wix.com/magical-movie-review

From just after the opening this effort began to look like Television with pretensions. Maybe it's time Hollywood and audiences got over the misguided following of styles from the likes of Tarantino and Scorsese - both who seem to have joined other overrated movie makers of the era...Now Billy Ray joins their club with this over-everything mess of a movie. More ridiculous flash-back, flash-forward techniques to leave the viewer simply wanting to give up. It even looks like the movie makers were confused and perhaps forgot to change some of the wardrobe between some time-skip scenes. Why further complicate an already overly complex screenplay??

Performers try to inject power into the unbelievable situations but don't often win (looked like they were as confused as the audience). Kidman was out of her element as the D.A. and has some of the movies most ridiculous dialogue and scenes. Julia Roberts wins the day with a powerfully realized performance. An interesting music score and cinematography also look like they were looking for a better script to bring to life. What a disappointment this is. Looks like a career going backwards.

Chiwetel Ejiofor was really good. His performance here mimics his performance in Z for Zachary. Both movies have dark themes, with Secret in Their Eyes being about trying to convict a murderer for the rape and murder of a young woman after the case is 15 years cold, when he slips through their fingers the first time.

Ejiofor plays Ray, an FBI agent determined to find the killer, and he plays it dark with touches of light humor, that allows us to like the character more, even as he juggles his obsession with the case with his attraction to the new DA, Claire played by Nicole Kidman. The relationship between Ray and Claire was done well and made it interesting to watch.

Ejiofor also showcases this balance as he investigates the case with Bumpy Willis, played by Dean Norris of Breaking Bad fame.

Julia Roberts gave a great performance in the film as the mother whose daughter was murdered and also happens to be a fellow FBI investigator. She seem unafraid to glam it down in order to fully get into the character of a grieving mother.

I understand that Secret in Their Eyes was adapted from a foreign film, but without seeing that film, I thought the overall experience of watching this film was great. It's a good look about what obsession and the need fro redemption can do to you and it was filled with a lot of twist and turns that keep you guessing, like a good murder mystery should.

When I saw the cast list, which includes Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and the brilliant Chiwetel Ejiofor I thought I was in for ninety minutes of sheer quality, you can forgive me for thinking that, when you take into account the number of awards shared by the stars, the budget, and the pedigree of the original movie. Unfortunately, Hollywood strikes again, the curse of the poor remake, it was virtually impossible to mess this up, but mess up they did. The acting was fine, strong production values, a clever story, in theory. However, the execution is so bad, the film lacks any degree of suspense, it lacks any degree of subtlety needed to tell such a story, and the characters are such that I didn't care less what happened to any of them, as I have no connection with anybody. The film should have been gripping, exciting, at least moved you to empathise with the characters, but no, it was utterly bland, such a waste of so much talent. I'm stunned by some of the positive reviews I've read, what are they seeing that I couldn't, all I did was yawn, and I'm easy to please in terms of thrillers.

Duller then dishwater. 5/10

This film is far better than than 6.2 rating it has received which seems mostly to come from those wanting to compare it to the Argentinian original. I am rating this as a separate film and not comparing it to the original. The acting is top notch and believable. Ejiofor, Kidman and Roberts all do a great job.

It's an interesting crime thriller with some twists and turns. It's about a team of rising investigators, along with their supervisor, whose worlds are suddenly torn apart during a homicide investigation that hits close to home. It was completely watchable and entertaining. I'm not saying this is a high brow, blow your socks of type of movie, but it certainly deserves a far higher rating.

I am certainly not saying that the original might not be much better. I have it on my list to watch but in my opinion, if you like thrillers and movies with some twists and turns and want to be entertained I recommend giving it a chance.

Back in 2010, Argentinian thriller El Secreto de Sus Ojos beat out Michael Haneke's brilliant The White Ribbon and French gem A Prophet for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award. That's how damn impressive it is. So it's not surprising that it eventually was given the Hollywood makeover. The question is does this star-studded, LA-based remake separate itself from the original and carve out its own place in the crowded crime genre? Sort of, but not really. But kind of. The backdrop has adjusted from Argentina's Dirty Wars to the more familiar War on Terror, planting this update into a messy and uneasy political landscape that creates a suitably tense and morally ambiguous atmosphere for the movie. The details of the grisly case at the film's core have gone relatively unchanged though, which is a shame for those who've seen the original, but should rivet newcomers with its gut-punching twists that span a 13-year time period. As the tormented investigator with a personal link to the victim, Chiwetel Ejiofor owns every second of screen time he's given with his commanding presence, whilst Julia Roberts is emotionally raw as the grieving mother with FBI resources at her disposal. Unfortunately Nicole Kidman drops the ball as the cautious but realistic State's attorney who holds a flame for ex-co-worker Ejiofor, never fully convincing in a steely role that requires more grit than what Kidman can produce. Shot and scored with the sombre mood you would expect, and wisely kept to a taut sub-two-hour runtime, Secret in Their Eyes fails to better (or even match) its forerunner yet elevates itself above the standard whodunit fare with two powerhouse performances and an absorbing central murder case.

Hollywood, we spoke about this just last week. I know you're young and I know that sometimes means you want to steal ideas from others and think that by changing language and adding "stars" you will make something better but you know it doesn't work. We talked about 9 Quenns just the other day but now you've done it again. A poetic, heartbreaking, beautifully acted, thriller from Argintinia gets turned into barely watchable mush. So, go to you room, no dinner and don't do it again. And once you have realised the error of your ways we will watch the original and realise that having to read and watch a film isn't the end of the world and even better, opens you up to the idea that the action, the great stories, the films that treat the viewer as an adult, generally, don't come out of Hollywood anymore. Argintinia alone has been steadily putting out gem after gem, maybe we will have a mini fest on that country's output and forget bad remakes for a while.

'SECRET IN THEIR EYES': Three Stars (Out of Five)

An American remake, of the 2009 Argentine thriller 'THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES' (which won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film). The movie tells the story of a former FBI investigator, who's still trying to track down the killer, of his old partner's teenage daughter; 13 years later. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Dean Norris. It was written and directed by Billy Ray; based on the Argentine book 'The Question in Their Eyes' (by Eduardo Sacheri), and the script adapted from it (written by Sacheri and Juan Jose Campanella). I saw the original movie, and it's a much better film!

Two FBI agents, Ray (Ejiofor) and Jess (Roberts), are investigating the scene of a murder, when they discover that Jess's daughter (Zoe Graham) is the victim. They're able to track down, and arrest, the most likely suspect (Joe Cole); but he's set free, due to the fact that he's a government informant. Ray obsesses over the case, for 13-years, until he relocates the man, he thinks is the same suspect. He comes back to Los Angeles, after leaving the FBI, and asks his old supervisor (Kidman), who he's also long had feelings for, to reopen the case.

The original Argentine film was fantastic; I gave it 4.5 stars (out of 5), back when I first saw it (in 2010). This movie is well-made, to a certain extent, and well-acted; but it definitely doesn't live up to the original. Ejiofor and Roberts both give outstanding performances, in the film though, like they always do; and the scene of Roberts finding her murdered daughter, is hauntingly memorable. The movie is worth seeing, just to watch the two of them.

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The movie captivates your attention with the help of actors who individually did a very good job. Ejiofor is an amazing actor, Kidman has a scene where she reminds you how great of an actress she is (less make up and surgery tho, she often looks and acts like a wax figure). Dean Norris creates a personable character with very good acting as well. Last but not least Julia Roberts gives a phenomenon performance. She makes the movie actually. At the end of the movie I couldn't imagine another actress who could have done a better job. It's impressive to see how much risk she took as a movie star and proved herself again as a real actress.

In terms of film making it could really have been better with better choices of the use of music and better cinematic production elements. It sometimes makes you feel like you are watching an episode of a TV crime drama, but at least a good one. It is a good movie for people who like mysteries and twist endings. The movie achieved to keep my interest and satisfy me with the ending.

If there was ever a prime example of a harmless yet utterly pointless Hollywood remake of a much better yet underseen foreign film it's Billy Ray's Secret in Their Eyes, a thriller that crashed and burned upon release late last year in the midst of a barely there marketing campaign and reviews that were middling at best, despite an awards friendly named cast and a story that should've been exhilarating only to end up as a sporadically intriguing mystery.

Before delving any further into the occasional virtues of Ray's film (who's never really gone the next step from his breakout Shattered Glass from 2003), those that've never seen Juan José Campanella's Academy Award winning 2009 film of the same name from Spain should stop reading right now and seek it out as it's one of the finest thrillers of the modern era with its standout out scripting, frenetic action scenes (a soccer stadium chase is breathtaking in its design), outstanding cast and final reveal that will leave jaws dropping on floors.

This Hollywood update of the original try's to relive many of the originals past glories like the incendiary final reveal and even the stadium foot chase, this time transported to a disappointing baseball stadium setting, but the film feels somewhat lethargic overall and revelations and confronting situations that simmered in the 2009 film merely fizzle here despite the best effort of its loaded cast.

Filling in the role that was once earmarked for Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor is the films anchor as determined investigator Ray Kastan and he acquits himself well to a fairly intense role but struggles to draw out sufficient chemistry with his female co-stars Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, who continue on with their recent forgettable efforts with turns that required their experienced skill sets to do a little more with what they were given even though Ray's plotting of the storyline leaves much to be desired with its flash back structure, even the films big finish is somewhat hampered by some sloppy editing that intrudes on the present moment.

At its heart, Secret in Their Eyes has an extremely appealing narrative that helps cover up many of this particular incarnation's left wanting deliveries but it can't help override the fact that this unnecessary remake isn't even a patch on its foreign forefather and quite clearly wasn't as appealing to western audiences as the studio obviously thought it would've been.

2 ½ limping Hank's out of 5

So this was supposed to be a remake of the Argentinian flick "The Secret in their Eyes". Unfortunately this turned out to be one of the worst remakes ever made.

Let us crawl slowly through the direction department: It isn't intense. Doesn't let you connect at all. The office romance of Chiwetel and Nicole lacks the chemistry it was supposed to reach. Billy Ray goes for two parallel story lines which further vexes the audience. Primary reason being, Chiwetel looks exactly the same in both time-lines, (his white beard is the only thing that could have probably pin pointed, and the flick's story, which as a matter of fact, compels you to spend minutes wondering what they are really talking about to grasp which time-line you are exactly in).

Moving on to the plot front. So they did change the story a bit with the inclusion of Julia Roberts to the tale. Making her daughter a victim. The initial bits of the movie were quite powerful where she gives a power pack performance whilst grieving. Then she too gets bogged down by the flick's poor direction. Screenplay is sometimes fine, but at most junctures lanced by inappropriate editing.

The story also lacks a proper Dirty War backdrop. Here 9/11 terrorism is taken into account for a distraught system. Although the plot of the movie runs directly on the rails of the Argentinian version, you incessantly feel something isn't right. Music of the movie isn't profound and is the detachable kind, not present at most of the crucial junctures.

Nicole is pretty much simply there, expressionless yet sensuous. You almost don't figure out if Nicole was bluffing whilst challenging Marzin of his manhood. So poorly made! Even the final bits where everything was supposed to actually matter, things become so hazy and bleak you start thinking if it would end in a different fashion altogether.

Chiwetel tries to hold every bit on his shoulders alone, but unfortunately falls in the muck of some weird unfeeling love and looks of his co-stars. A very bad remake, actually. Go watch the original!

Jumping back and forth in the timeline without clear delineation caused confusion for a bit. Once I figured out how to tell the difference, the ride became more enjoyable. Interesting story told reasonably well, good performance by the ever-gorgeous Kidman. Twist of an ending.

About my reviews: I do not offer a synopsis of the film -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very Good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A Classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating)

An English-language remake of Juan José Campanella's, I think superior Argentinian thriller. The film is intense in its attempts to marry the personal and the political, and not only does it have an amazing cast, but the director knows how to use them effectively. Each one of them brings credibility to their characters. But it's Julia Roberts who owns the movie, as the grieving Jess. Overall, this remake fails to add something new to a film that did't even need a remake to begin with. It never quite captures the intensity of the film it is based upon, making it a common thriller. Sometimes you even think that you are watching an episode of "Law & Order.

I also watched the original version of the movie. It was a much better movie. The movie has an interesting revenge story. Preferably I recommend the original. If not, you can watch that too.

This is a rare beast a remake that is actually pretty good. Although it it isn't as good as the original, lacking the slow burn nature of it, it's still a well made and entertaining film.

It's pretty similar to the original but the shorter running time means it's faster paced which does diminish it's substance.

What makes this worth watching even for those who have seen the original is the acting. It boasts a top rate cast with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts particularly good.

For those who have seen the original this will hold no surprises but for those who haven't seen it, it is well worth watching with a great ending.

The original, "El secreto de sus ojos" is a masterpiece of cinema and story. Not just the premise but you get to see the justice system of Argentina and Spain. It's pretty interesting since we are saturated with the American justice system.Very much unlike the US and similar to France (Engrenages is a great French police procedural TV series). People either cannot or will not watch foreign cinema or have difficulty with subtitles. I understand that it is a challenge in that your eyes are diverted from the screen, the cultures are unfamiliar or the intonation can be confusing. Cinema and literature is escapism. Step outside of the box. I'm hearing impaired and use subs for all TV programs. I acknowledge that it's easier for me. Hollywood ruins spectacular foreign films. If American audiences want to see less engaging movies, there are films for that. And that's fine. We call them "guilty pleasures" or "no brainers."

i have seen the original and now this. this was watchable..but watchable is not acceptable with such a star-studded cast. Julia Roberts..i noticed lots of reviewers wrote about how good her acting and how brave to be w/o make-up. who cares that she went w/o make- up?...Roberts acting was like a roller-coaster ride...up and down...at times it was fairly good and at times i wanted to laugh at her. i don't think shes meant for these type of roles and i like her very much. Nicole Kidman was totally miscasted and an even bigger offender..and again..shes one of my favorite actresses. the only main lead who was consistent was Ejiofor..but its not his best work. the original movie made you feel...the characters in the original were so alive..be they bad or good. this remake made you feel blasé...who cares. one of the most important things the remake couldn't hit on was the ache the passion and the longing to be with each other the 2 main leads felt for each other.you could feel that in the original..so...a big miss on Kidmans part..again..totally miscasted. you also couldn't feel the evil of the perpetrator..a bland villain in the remake...the villain in the original was actually scary. this could have been a really really good movie also..but i think i know why it wasn't. blame can be put on the director also...if the takes aren't done right..for goodness sake..keep redoing the takes til its got the right feel. but i think most of the money went to the big name stars so there was probably monetary constraints on the movie..which leads to time constraints..meaning..not enough time to get the takes right. i don't think this movie had unlimited funding..it doesn't even list its budget on here at IMDb...most movies do. so...with limited funding and such a big name cast the film just ran out of time and money. what a shame...it could have been really really good. but don't get me wrong...its still a watchable thriller..it just pales in comparison to the original. thats whats so funny about it...the original probably had 1/20 the budget of this movie an was almost a perfect movie.