Exposed *** (2016, Keanu Reeves, Ana de Armas, Christopher McDonald, Mira Sorvino) – Movie Review

Keanu Reeves stars as Detective Galban, a tormented New York cop who investigates the truth behind the life and death of his partner and close friend, Detective Cullen, murdered in a subway.

The case reveals disturbing police corruption and a dangerous secret involving Galban’s only lead. She is a young, devout Catholic, Latina woman called Isabel (Ana de Armas), who has a boyfriend fighting overseas, lives with her in-laws, sees hopeful visions and has a virgin pregnancy. Her life may be at risk if he pulls her in for questioning…

Despite some sluggish scenes, pacing and tone problems and some muddled story-telling tendencies, as well as a troubled history, this surreal oddity remains a gritty, strangely involving, better-than-expected supernatural thriller. It is tense and surprising, with lots on its mind, mainly matters of loss and death.

The producers turned the movie into cop thriller focusing on Keanu rather than the Latina lead. After they recut the film drastically, director Gee Malik Linton fought to have his name removed from the movie, which was replaced with the pseudonym, Declan Dale. He remains credited on screen for the screenplay. A director’s cut alternate version that follows the director’s vision was edited by Roman Polanski’s long-time editor, Hervé de Luze.

Mira Sorvino as the detective’s bitter widow Janine Cullen, Lieutenant Galway, Christopher McDonald as Keanu’s boss Lieutenant Galway, Melissa Linton as his new partner Detective Ramirez, Big Daddy Kane as Black Jones and Michael Rispoli as Detective Dibronski are all considerable assets in the cast, adding weight, authority and drama.

De Armas looks young and lovely and is a portrait in saintly optimism. Keanu looks grim and wrecked and specialises in minimalist acting, but both he and the film are worth a little look.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

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