Beautiful Blue Eyes

In what proved to be his last film, the iconic Scheider stars in this crime thriller that begins with a really interesting premise. The whole notion of returning to a country that betrayed you, as an older, wiser man, gives Beautiful Blue Eyes scope for a really fascinating, profound drama. Indeed it may well resonate with many viewers who themselves have fled a war-torn country at a young age. Unfortunately, despite the potential in this concept, the movie is undermined throughout by its substandard, somewhat cheap revenge-plot element. That's not to say that the act of vengeance can't be an interesting subject to explore. It's just that here, it's presented in an overtly cinematic, clichéd way.

That said, the way writer-director Joshua Newton moves between memories and the present day is clever at times, and he shows aptitude as a filmmaker, with some creative and resourceful decisions. His son, Alexander Newton, is good too, taking on the role of young Joseph in the flashback scenes. As for Scheider, he brings a complexity and sadness to the character, mixed with an inner grit that he always carried. But the film's narrative hinges on a coincidence so absurd, and so unlikely, that it becomes a challenge to invest in it. It may be the movie's leading plot point, but it's also its greatest undoing.