Saturday, November 29, 2003

MOVIE - THE MISSING - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Tommy Lee Jones (Samuel Jones), Cate Blanchett (Maggie), Evan Rachel Wood (Lily), Aaron Eckhart (Brake Baldwin), Val Kilmer (General), Jenna Boyd (Dot) & Eric Schweig (Chidin). DIRECTOR - Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Backdraft, Ransom & Parenthood) Based on the novel "The Last Ride" by Thomas Eidson. One of the things that most impressed me about The Missing was the respect this film has for the audience. The script and direction never rely on what I call the "flashing neon sign technique", which so many lesser movies do, to draw attention to significant moments in the film. The transformations that the characters undergo are gradual and understated while being just obvious enough to not go unnoticed. One of the best examples of what I'm referring to is the scene where the Christian Maggie dons a necklace of Native Prayer Beads. This moment of personal growth doesn't happen immediately upon her being stricken by the curse of an Apache Shaman and it shouldn't. This is a strong woman with deeply held beliefs, not all of which are that righteous, that wouldn't abandon her beliefs instantly. When she does put on the necklace the camera lingers momentarily but no further commentary is made. Everyone sees it and the audience is left to appreciate the significance of the moment if they so chose. The Missing is filled with similar subtle scenes. The musical score also never swells to an ear-deafening level during crucial sequences either. The Missing also doesn't attempt to invest Samuel Jones (Tommy Lee Jones) with mystical tracking powers. I'm sure Jones appreciated not having to reprise his less than impressive impression of a hound dog in the film The Hunted. If you want to see the difference proper directing can make to a movie watch The Missing, and the absolutely dreadful Western Open Range, back to back. The Missing's respect for the audience is also demonstrated by its choice of villains and its treatment of them. In these politically correct times it was refreshing to see a Native American bad guy. There are certain groups that may rise up in righteous indignation at such a concept but The Missing isn't engaging in race baiting or the promotion of negative stereotypes to lure audiences in. If you even remotely pay attention to the film's message, no one, from the Christian Maggie, to the Town Sheriff, to the U.S. Calvary, gets off lightly. The Missing, in the tradition of Unforgiven, challenges the simplistic notions of homogeneity that normally permeate discussions of these various matters. By the end of The Missing moral equivalency has been achieved. This is not a case of having your cake and eating it too but rather a more honest retrospective historical portrait. The other aspect of The Missing that impressed me was the intensity of the film. The action scenes, totally devoid of mindless special effects, nevertheless rivet you to your seat. That's quickly becoming a lost art in this era of overproduced blockbusters like The Matrix Revolutions. Director Howard also uses the stark and beautiful natural surroundings to augment, as opposed to overwhelm, the intensity level. The Missing's basic story, rescuing a loved one, is strong enough to stand on its own. The beauty of the film is that for those seeking more than just entertainment there is a powerful underlying message contained in the story as well. The Missing is an intense, gritty and powerful western that shouldn't be missed. Running time - 135 minutes Alternative Reviews: Roger Ebert's Review Rotten Tomatoes Reviews The Missing Official Web Site Comments by Halo Scan: 1:04:00 AM     |

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