Is Emile Zola's novel, Therese Raquin, in the public domain? With a dozen silent, sound and TV productions one would think the last word had been beaten out of it by now but back it comes in this sluggish bore probably made on the cheap in Serbia by a hack taking his swing (and missing by a country mile) at the big time featuring a tired scenery chewing performance by Jess Lange so abrasive you can almost hear her teeth grinding.
Therese (Liz Olson) in a loveless arranged marriage to her sickly cousin Camille (Tom Felton) is bored, emotionally abused and sexually unfulfilled living in the country. When the opportunity to re-locate in Paris presents itself her heart soars but the frustration dynamic remains upon arrival, wiling her days away in a drab shop, her nights spent watching Madame Raquin (Lange) and friends play dominoes. When an old friend of Camille's, Laurent (Oscar Issac) makes the scene the passion amps up and tragedy awaits.
In its rather shapeless telling director Mike Stratton mutes In Secret's power with sluggish pacing and tepid desire from his star crossed lovers in passionate moments as he pays lip service to censors with self conscious compositions that render most scenes with a stiffness and restraint.
As Therese, Olson is wide eyed, dull and out of her depth, stretching little as she goes from innocent to cold conspirator. Oscar Issac gives a spot on imitation of Tony Bennett at times and that's part of the problem. He's more Rat Pack than 19th Century gentleman. Lange starts strong but soon veers into screeching ham in no time. In addition a group of minor supporting characters (the domino crowd) move en masse about the film like a gaggle of geese with insipid self importance and disapproving glances.
Standing on it's own In Secret flaccidly fails on all levels. When compared to the 1980 television version featuring the powerfully passionate performances of Kate Nelligan and Bryan Cox with the redoubtable Mona Washburne turning in a wonderfully measured performance as Madame Raquin it looks more like a community theatre production.
Therese (Liz Olson) in a loveless arranged marriage to her sickly cousin Camille (Tom Felton) is bored, emotionally abused and sexually unfulfilled living in the country. When the opportunity to re-locate in Paris presents itself her heart soars but the frustration dynamic remains upon arrival, wiling her days away in a drab shop, her nights spent watching Madame Raquin (Lange) and friends play dominoes. When an old friend of Camille's, Laurent (Oscar Issac) makes the scene the passion amps up and tragedy awaits.
In its rather shapeless telling director Mike Stratton mutes In Secret's power with sluggish pacing and tepid desire from his star crossed lovers in passionate moments as he pays lip service to censors with self conscious compositions that render most scenes with a stiffness and restraint.
As Therese, Olson is wide eyed, dull and out of her depth, stretching little as she goes from innocent to cold conspirator. Oscar Issac gives a spot on imitation of Tony Bennett at times and that's part of the problem. He's more Rat Pack than 19th Century gentleman. Lange starts strong but soon veers into screeching ham in no time. In addition a group of minor supporting characters (the domino crowd) move en masse about the film like a gaggle of geese with insipid self importance and disapproving glances.
Standing on it's own In Secret flaccidly fails on all levels. When compared to the 1980 television version featuring the powerfully passionate performances of Kate Nelligan and Bryan Cox with the redoubtable Mona Washburne turning in a wonderfully measured performance as Madame Raquin it looks more like a community theatre production.