A doctor finds his deceased wife on-line in the foreign-language thriller, TELL NO ONE. Eight years ago, Dr. Alex Beck and his wife Margot, went skinny-dipping at an old watering hole where the two grew up. After their swim, Margot swam back to shore, only to be brutally beaten and murdered, while Alex was knocked unconscious during his attempt to save her. Now modern day, Alex is sent an email which links him to a video feed that appears to show Margot alive and well. Whether a cruel trick or a link to his lost love, Alex is determined to get to the bottom of it. 
Mixing old-time suspense with timeless music, TELL NO ONE conjures up a thriller that defies my sniff test of the genre, one worthy of a viewing in spite of a lackluster finish. The film sets the tone and attitude of several scenes wonderfully by incorporating catchy and classical music to the proceedings. “For Your Precious Love” by Otis Redding beautifully sets the mood for Alex and Margot’s nostalgic swim, and U2’s “With or Without You” pulsates through an emotional discovery Alex makes about the potential whereabouts of Margot. The music and context of each of these scenes is brilliantly orchestrated milking mystery, suspense and emotionality out of each moment. Director Guillaume Canet puts his stamp on the film in these instances, but also in the script, along with co-writer Phillipe Lefebre. The movie flows well for the most part, but drags on too long during a sluggish climax. Just when the film should be hitting full stride, an overly long and unforeseen explanation taps a bit of energy out of an otherwise solid thriller. The film does benefit from some effective performances. Francois Cluzet as Alex and Marie-Josee Croze as Margot headline a uniformly good cast, one that sells the labyrinth of a story that encompasses the film. TELL NO ONE may be imported, but outside of its subtitles, its accessibility and execution are a nice fit for American audiences.
Grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment