Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Everybody Knows Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 24, 2019

Writer/director Asghar Farhadi is primarily known for his Iranian dramas, scoring major critical successes with efforts such as “The Salesman,” “A Separation,” and “About Elly.” Ready for more global awareness, the helmer takes baby steps toward the mainstream with “Everybody Knows,” which utilizes a sampling of star power to nab attention, finding Farhadi teaming with actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem to help carry a kidnapping mystery. However, “Everybody Knows” is not a nail-biter with chases and whiplash turns of fate. It remains in line with Farhadi’s previous work, with primary attention placed on the internal churn of decision-making and the troubles that come with longtime relationships and secretive connections. Those expecting something more explosive from the filmmaker this time out might be disappointed, but slow-burn tension is there, realized through accomplished performances from the entire ensemble.

Traveling from Argentina to rural Spain for a family wedding, Laura (Penelope Cruz) is returning to the land of her youth, reuniting with loved ones, parents, and siblings, joined by her daughter, Irene (Carla Campra), while her husband, Alejandro (Ricardo Darin), remains home. Long ago, Laura was in love with Paco (Javier Bardem), but he’s moved on, becoming the owner of a vineyard, married to Bea (Barbara Lennie). For the wedding, a raucous party commences, uniting the village in celebration, but afterwards, Laura realizes that Irene is missing, soon informed via text that her daughter has been kidnapped, with the perpetrators demanding a small fortune for the safe return of her asthmatic child. Panicked, Laura goes to her family and Paco for help, with the group trying to figure out what to do without informing the police about the crime, fearful of retaliation. During the struggle to piece together clues, revelations about financial realities and family ties are made, complicating the situation for all involved.

While Cruz and Bardem will certainly give the feature more marketplace visibility than previous Farhadi endeavors, the stars blend seamlessly into the mix of this Spanish drama, respecting the ensemble effort as they portray two pawns in a strange chess game of secrets and lies. The evolution of the nightmare is gracefully handled by the pair, with Laura a seemingly together mother and wife, projecting confidence as she reenters the playground of her past, coming into contact with the passage of time as she studies how much her father, Antonio (Ramon Barea), has aged, growing senile with taxing physical movements. And Paco lives a life where time is critical to his success, overseeing a collection of day laborers as the owner of a vineyard, waiting carefully for his wine to age. The characters were once passionate about each other, and the details of their separation are shared throughout the film, with love disturbed by life, with the former couple pulled back into each other’s orbit when Irene is taken from her bed in the night, stolen without her inhaler.

“Everybody Knows” sets up the crime well, with Farhadi establishing a similar nightmare from the past involving a little girl (showcased in newspaper headlines), but cloaking suspicion in the details of the wedding celebration, which brings the family together for a night of fun. All seems well, but joy is quickly silenced by horror once Irene goes missing and a text demanding payment is sent to Laura, launching a newfound level of anxiety as the family tries to piece together possible motivations and isolate suspects, briefly turning on one another as financial histories are exposed. Turns out, everyone needs money in town, complicating ransom efforts, with Paco wrestling with the idea of selling his vineyard to pay the crooks, which dredges up resentful accusations of ownership, as Paco purchased the property from Antonio when he was at his lowest point. Also triggering hostilities is use of Jorge (Jose Angel Egido), a retired policeman brought in to figure out how to resolve the situation and bring Irene home, with the investigator unlocking hidden relationships and the truth about Alejandro, who flies in from Argentina, putting his faith in God to bring his daughter home.

Everybody Knows Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation maintains clarity throughout, offering satisfying detail for facial particulars, permitting a study of age as characters from several generations get involved in the investigation. Fatigue and emotion are easily surveyed. Locations retain their old-world textures, with stone construction everywhere, while the dimensional vineyards and assorted country visits are offered. Colors are compelling, delivering golden sunlight and varied costuming, with formalwear providing bolder primaries. Delineation is acceptable, though blacks are slightly milkier at times.

Everybody Knows Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is primarily invested in performances, with much of the run time devoted to numerous actors sharing scenes of panic and emotion. Dialogue exchanges are direct, with ideal clarity and balance, never losing a moment. Music is used sparingly, but soundtrack selections are precise, with defined instrumentation and vocals. Room tone is explored throughout the listening event, delivering a sense of celebration that slips into the surrounds, and atmospherics are engaging, capturing windy, rainy exteriors, and tighter household meetings. Low-end isn't prioritized, emerging with ringing bells and some weather-related events.

Everybody Knows Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

Everybody Knows Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Everybody Knows" has its share of revelations, with most effective, while one specific turn is not difficult to see coming. Farhadi isn't going full Hitchcock here, preferring to hang back and soak up the uneasiness, which is rooted in longstanding relationships. Perhaps the feature isn't as sharply observed or challenging as the rest of his filmography, but Farhadi is dreaming bigger here, working to maintain his creative interests in the private lives of tortured people while feeling out more pronounced situations of panic. And he has a superb cast to achieve his goals, with fine turns from Cruz and Bardem joined by excellent work from Lennie, who communicates Bea's frustrations with aching precision, and Darin sustains the enigmatic ways of Alejandro without overplaying the role. "Everybody Knows" manipulates with twists and turns in the case, but it's really a chance to focus on damaged characters stuck in past lives, which is a Farhadi specialty.