Everybody Knows
Academy Awards all round for the main players of this Spanish thriller; with Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and director Asghar Farhadi involved you wouldn't be wrong in expecting a sensationalfilm,yet however involving it can be, the end product isn't strong.
Arrivinginto a small Spanish town to attend her sisters upcoming wedding are Laura (Cruz) and her two children. The ceremony andreception are joyfuluntil Laura cannot find her daughter Irene (Carla Campra);her worst fears are confirmed when she gets a message saying Irene has been kidnapped and not to alert the police. The entire family becomes involved with major help from vineyard owner Paco (Bardem) as they try to find her.
On paper this is a story that should be extremely riveting and the psychological angle could be played really well, to truly bury into the audiences skin and psyche, but it never quite attains that hopeful height. It, instead feels at times like a melodramatic soap that would perhaps work as a serial drama in 4-6 parts on TV but as a 2 hour plus, film it doesn't quite maintain the suspense it deserves.
The most annoying feature of 'Everybody Knows'is having an ending that is so disappointing. Even the climb to the climax is less than exciting or tense, so you sit there hoping the film will shift into a shocking gear for the actual end, but it goes out on a whimper. There are some strong qualities throughout though, most of these transpire from the majestic performances, not solely from real-life couple Bardem and Cruz, but from the large family unit too.
One of the best parts of the film is in Farhadi's assured handling of taking us from the spirited highs of a wedding and following party, to the gut-crushing panic and grief of a kidnapping. The courtyard reception is a cheery blast and what with all the dancing you cannot help but get swept up in the happiness, even if you know full well that some danger may be imminent.
'Everybody Knows'swells with incredible performances and a solidly crafted start but this film begins waningaway to a less than impacting ending.
