Judging by the number of his novels are adapted to screen, Spanish journalist, TV reporter and novelist Arturo Pérez-Reverte should consider himself to be very fortunate. Few present-day European literary authors are so popular among Continental filmmakers. However, Pérez-Reverte usually wasn't particularly happy with the film versions of his work, and that included Uncovered, 1994 thriller directed by Jim McBride, based on the novel originally titled The Flanders Panel.
The plot of the film takes place in Barcelona where young Julia (played by Kate Beckinsale) earns for a living working as a restorer of the old paintings. One of such paintings, made in Flanders many centuries ago, features two nobles playing chess. On it Julia notices well-hidden Latin inscription that says "Who killed the knight". Intrigued, she contacts painting's owner – old Don Manuel (played by Michael Gough) who tells her that one of the nobles on the painting was killed and that the painter tried to give clues to the identity of killer. Trying to solve this medieval murder mystery, Julia recruits help of Domenec (played by Padge Bauhan), chess genius that would try to reconstruct the game. In the meantime, Julia's friends and acquaintances start dying in mysterious circumstances, so Julia gets involved in murder mystery of her own.
Uncovered would probably be remembered as one of the first films in the career of British actress Kate Beckinsale (and one of films in which she briefly appeared without clothes). Uncovered probably wouldn't be remembered as particularly impressive entry in the filmography of once promising American director Jim McBride. In this film, partially financed by European Union, he had plenty of good British actors at his disposal, as well as the exotic location of Catalan metropolis. Yet the film, despite not having any major flaws, was one of those titles that fail to arouse viewers' imagination or enthusiasm. That happened most probably because McBride couldn't have decided whether to make silly little comedy or straightforward thriller. To make things worse, McBride failed to use his talent for showing eroticism on the screen (although Beckinsale's nude appearance would indicate otherwise). However, Uncovered still has some bright moments and represents mostly entertaining experience, at least for those who didn't read the novel.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on November 18th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/18591-uncovered?language=en-US
Critic: AA
