Everyone Has Those Little Secrets
by Diana Vaccarelli
My favorite genre to watch on television is suspense. Secrets and Lies follow the aftermath of the murder of a young boy name Tom Murphy. The show is told through the eyes of Ben Crawford, played by Ryan Phillippe, whose world is turned upside down as he is the prime suspect but claims his innocence.
Phillippe portrays Ben Crawford as a sensitive nice guy always looking to do the right thing even when the right thing gets him in trouble. He establishes a poise and grace even though you can see the frustration on his face. Phillippe manages to change his mood when his family is in the room, mainly his youngest daughter Abby. He does everything he can to assure them that everything is going to be okay.
When he is alone you can see the anger building and tension and then he flips the switch. This is where he shines in the role. He makes that seem so easy, which we know is not as an actor. It is a rare gift.