Thesis on a Homicide (2013)

Simply Perfect

As Good As It Gets

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The acting in this movie is really good.

As in many Hitchcock films, we know who committed the homicide in the title in the first few minutes. The rest of the movie is about the obsession of Roberto, the law professor, to trap and expose the criminal; through him and other characters the viewer obtains clues and hints about the purpose and the motivation of the killer. None of these clues is definitive, and most can be interpreted in more than one way.I must I say I was a little bit put off on first viewing; in films of this type we expect a solution, but here we just get an additional clue and then the movie ends. On second thought (and second viewing) I think this is what makes the movie so good. Solutions are almost always disappointing. In contrast, this ending delivers preponderance of evidence from incomplete information but leaves many points unresolved, as in real life and real legal proceedings.Ricardo Darín's performance is flawless; he has developed into one of the finest actors of his generation. Alberto Amman is equally excellent; he alternates subtly and almost imperceptibly between boyish charm and creepiness. Director Hernán Goldfrid hits all the right notes all the time; his pacing is perfect. Production values are excellent.This movie is a must see. As a bonus, you'll get to know the magnificent building housing the School of Law of the University of Buenos Aires.

This is a highly thrilling and cerebral mystery about a battle of wits filled with twists and turns . Mystery , intrigue about bizarre facts happen in a University when appears a killing corpse . The same team , actor (Ricardo Darin) and producers (Gerardo Herrero , Axel Kuschevatzky) , who made ¨The secret in your eyes¨ bring us another suspenseful film , "Thesis on a Homicide" or ¨Tesis Sobre Un Homicidio¨ . The picture is exciting and some moment brilliant , and the actors are quite reliable such as Ricardo Darin and Albert Hammann . It deals with Roberto Bermudez (Ricardo Darin) , a specialist in criminal law, is convinced that one of his students secretly dreams of executing the perfect crime . He is named Gonzalo Ruiz Cordera (Alberto Ammann) and Roberto thinks he committed a brutal murder . It leads him to start an investigation that becomes his obsession .The film contains tension , thriller , drama , mystery , plot twists and including decent scares with tense sequences especially in its final part , in a unexpected denouement , near of the end . Hitchcock-style psychological thriller , being surprisingly good and compellingly realized . The original as well as entertaining idea is overspread throughout the movie , but not totally satisfactory , including conventional pitfalls . The main cast is frankly fine , such as Ricardo Darin as a retired lawyer working as a criminology professor obsessed with chasing a supposed killer and Alberto Ammann as a young lawyer who bears a dark past ; besides , a gorgeous Calu Rivero as victim's sister . Darin is an excellent leading figure of the most important Argentinian movies such as : "El Faro" (1998), "El Mismo Amor La Misma Lluvia" (1999), "Nueve Reinas" (2000), "La Fuga" (2001) and especially known for ¨The secret in your eyes¨ and ¨El Hijo De La Novia¨ . Albert Ammann also starred several hits as Spanish cinema as Argentinian one , such as : ¨Eva¨, ¨Lope¨ , ¨Invasor¨ , ¨Combustion¨, among others , being especially known for ¨Cell 211¨ or ¨Celda 211¨ . The motion picture is pretty well , although sometimes stagy , overlong and slow moving ; however is entertaining for continuous suspense . Sinister and mysterious atmosphere plenty of lights and shades , it is finely photographed by cameraman Rolo Pulpeiro . Suspenseful and stirring musical score by Sergio Moure who previously composed successful films as ¨Unconscious¨ and being expert on frightening atmosphere such as ¨El Cuerpo" and ¨Kidnapped¨ . The film was well produced by various producers as Gerardo Herrero , Axel Kuschevatzky , Alfredo Odorisio , Vanessa Ragone ; all of them have produced a lot of successes in the new Argentinian and Spanish cinema . Being professionally written Patricio Vega and well directed by Hernán Golfrid who formerly realized only one movie titled "Music on Hold" or ¨Musica en espera¨. The flick will appeal to suspense enthusiasts and Ricardo Darin fans . Rating : 6.5/10 Good , better than average . It's well worth watching and contains some really thrilling scenes and intriguing images .

Roberto Bermudez, a university law professor, respected author, and penal code expert, is conducting a special class for advanced students. It will only be an eight weeks course. Bermudez is surprised to find among his students is Gonzalo, an enigmatic young man, the son of friends, now living in Europe. From the start, Gonzalo appears to be a defiant pupil, whose concern appears to be proving to Bermudez his own theory about the subject at the heart of this seminar. When a young woman is discovered in the university parking area, the whole class is instantly interested in the homicide. Bermudez, with his vast experience, believes the murder of the woman, who happens to be a waitress from a hang-out where most students spend time, realizes this homicide is the work of a psychopath. He begins his own investigation, trying to satisfy his own curiosity in discovering the assassin. His friendship with the police, helps him tie loose ends about the crime. It becomes obvious Gonzalo, a mysterious past, as well as his own interest in the case will bring the two men into a dangerous course of action.Directed with sure hand by Hernan Golfrid, whose "Musica en espera" this viewer admired, we looked forward for the new film with interest. The work is based on a novel by Diego Paszkowski, which, unfortunately we did not read, gets a great production under Mr. Golfrid's direction. The adaptation of the novel by Patricio Vega is the weakest element in the film, which gets an impeccable treatment by Mr. Goldfrid. Technically, this Argentine- Spanish co-production has nothing to envy from films of the genre.There are many unresolved issues in the story which lets the audience want for more. In reality, nothing is ever proved about who the real killer is, thus, the picture asks the viewer to get his own conclusion. There are hints of a deeper connection between the professor and his brilliant student, which is not really explored in more detail. And yet, the film involves us from the start. The complex character of Roberto by Ricardo Darin, probably the best actor working in movies today, gets an excellent performance. Roberto is probably the best mind in criminal law in the country. In his mind, he figures out who the killer is. Unknown to him, he is going against another brilliant mind, that of Gonzalo, who has returned to the country out of nowhere to give Roberto a run for his money.Basically, this is a showcase for actors. On the one hand, Ricardo Darin, and on the other, a less experienced, but equally sly, is the wonderful Alberto Ammann, a new face in the Argentine film scene. The two actors match each other in unexpected ways. Calu Rivero plays Laura, the sister of the slain victim of the crime, who gets thrown into the picture perhaps to help Roberto entrap the man he thinks is the one responsible for the crime. Rolo Pulpeiro, the cinematographer, captures the moody dark tones the director required to set the action. Sergio Moure contributed the incidental piano score that blends perfectly with the plot.

Reading some reviews, apparently some people expected a movie as great as "El secreto de sus ojos", which is one of the best Latin American movies ever, just because they are from the same country and the main actor is also Ricardo Darin. If you expect another masterpiece, this is not where to look. Anyway, Ricardo Darin is a great actor and he shows it again here, playing a retired lawyer who now is a teacher and is convinced one of his students not only murdered a girl, but also wants Darin to discover him I liked the movie very much, but let me warn you: if you think that a movie must, in order to be good, have a happy ending (or a "Hollywood ending" to quote Woody Allen), then don't see it. I'm hoping there are plans for a sequel!