- Running time:
- 127 minutes
- Rated:
- R
- Cast:
- Ricardo Darín -
- Benjamín Esposito
- Soledad Villamil -
- Irene Menéndez Hastings
- Pablo Rago -
- Ricardo Morales
- Javier Godino -
- Isidoro Gómez
- Guillermo Francella -
- Pablo Sandoval
(2 ratings)
Retired Argentine federal investigator Benjamín Espósito (Ricardo Darín) works on a novel based on a criminal case that has haunted him for over 20 years. In 1974 a young woman was brutally raped and murdered. Espósito, his partner and friend Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella) and their fresh-faced colleague Irene Menéndez-Hastings (Soledad Villamil) narrow down the suspects to an acquaintance of the victim, Isidoro Gómez (Javier Godino). But bad timing and political corruption make bringing Gómez to justice as difficult as it is for Benjamin to admit his true feelings for Irene.
The buzz: A surprise competitor in this year’s Oscar race for best foreign language film, the co-production of Spain and Argentina beat out more widely rewarded international competition (“The White Ribbon,” “A Prophet”) for the Oscar win. Some observers insisted that was due to the foreign language voters’ old-fashioned tastes, better suited to “Eyes’” emphasis on traditional storytelling over creative risks. The film’s director, Juan José Campanella, was previously a foreign language Oscar nominee for 2001’s “Son of the Bride” and has balanced directing films in Argentina with work on U.S. TV series including “House,” “Law & Order: SVU” and even “30 Rock.”
The verdict: Lingering regret over unrequited love and insufficient punishments drive this melodramatic mystery, turning the film into an admirably adult investigation of what it means to always be looking backwards. But it’s also a protracted exercise in frustration, for the characters and audience. The central investigation would feel at home on a CBS procedural (a very special “Cold Case” perhaps) and its surprise twist climax is so overblown (swelling music, tortured reaction shots) that it loses all impact. Benjamin and Irene’s restrained romance comes off better, providing the film its limited emotional resonance. It’s still hard to ignore that the current foreign language film scene also offers “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” a less polished and tasteful effort but one with more interesting characters investigating a crazier mystery.
Did you know? Campanella hasn’t made a feature in Argentina that didn’t star Darín, one of the country’s most recognizable actors.
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