Secret in Their Eyes

"Secret in Their Eyes" stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in this ill conceived story written and directed by Billy Ray.
A murder that took place 13 years ago has the viewing audience bouncing back and forth from scenes in the present to scenes which took place at the time of the crime. The only possible way to distinguish between the two time periods are the hairstyles of Ms. Kidman and Ms. Roberts and the buttoned and unbuttoned collar of Mr. Ejiofor. This is a task that the most attentive and dedicated viewer will find hard to accomplish  Watching the film is an effort and, when you add to that,  a concocted plot in a film poorly written, edited and directed, it becomes obvious that quality players are being asked to perform in a less than adequate vehicle which, for this viewer, gets and deserves only 1 and ½ stars.

Spotlight

"Spotlight" was co-written by Josh Singer and Thomas McCarthy who also directed the film.  It stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, John Slattery, Rachel McAdams and Leiv Schrieber (who looks like he should have taken 2 No-Doze pills before his parts were shot).. The film tells the story of the investigative team of  reporters on The Boston Globe (called "Spotlight") and how they uncovered the scandal in the Catholic Church involving the molestation and abuse of children by priests and the efforts made to cover up those transgressions by the Church hierarchy. The real "star" of the film is this most interesting story of how an institution so beloved and respected by its community could be made to be held accountable for these unconscionable acts engaged in by its representatives.. With all due respect to the performances of Messrs. Keaton and Ruffalo and Ms. McAdams,, the film takes too long to tell its story and is definitely a "look at my watch" experience. Nevertheless, the importance of the subject matter and the tenacity of those investigating and ultimately writing the story that won their paper a Pulitzer Prize makes it a film worth seeing. I give the film 3 stars because, even after acknowledging its importance, it still remains an entertainment vehicle that should have left at least 20 minutes of it on the editing room floor.

Trumbo

"Trumbo" is a bio-pic depicting the life and travails of Dalton Trumbo, one of the blacklisted Hollywood writers in the post war cold war era where the members of the House Unamerican Activities Committee and the infamous Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, heaped their venom on the constitutional  rights of this nation’s citizens. Based on the book by Bruce Cook with a screenplay written by John McNamara, the film was directed by Jay Roach. Bryan Cranston plays the title role and Diane Lane, his wife, Cleo, with Michael Stuhlberg portraying noted actor, Edward G. Robinson. Helen Mirren is a convincing Hedda Hopper and Louis C.K ably assists in the film thus proving once again that a good comedy actor can play any serious role (although the converse is not always true). Mr. Trumbo’s story, a successful writer who, because of the blacklist, was forced to write using "fronts" (i.e. fictitious names instead of those of the real author). This is a film that teaches how to overcome obstacles and the economic and emotional stresses imposed upon those whose only crime it would appear was to attempt to preserve their respective rights of privacy and independence. Intermixed in the film are clips from newsreels and the hearings that took place at the time giving added credibility and  relevance to the events that I’m sure so many involved would like to forget Mr. Trumbo, noted for screenplays ranging from "Kitty Foyle", "Roman Holiday" and "Spartacus" perhaps said s it best when he recalled this difficult era in a speech to the Writers Guild of America and noted that "there were no heroes or villains in this troubling time, only victims". Although many of us lived through this era and time and can remember the incredulous abuses heaped upon artists, teachers and so many others, there are those of later generations who do not. It is for them as well as for us to be made aware and to be reminded of what took place.  I give the film 3 and ½ stars and urge that it be seen by all who cherish freedom,  justice and the indomitable spirit to survive.