The Clearing (2004)

Doesn't Quite Make It

Robert Redford and WIlliam Dafoe have some great scenes in this, and show themselves to be masters of their craft, but they are hampered by a script that simply doesn't succeed. Helen Mirren is either miscast in this or has made some bad choices in her portrayal of a middle-aged woman who, in the course of the film, progresses from one form of denial to another. It turns out that the character we have the most sympathy for is the kidnapper. I must mention that this film was shot very well. All the elements are present for this to be truly great. It's almost worth seeing just to try to figure out why it isn't. December 27, 2007

The Clearing - Mini Review

As an executive is held captive by an employee, it's up to his wife to deliver the ransom. November 21, 2007

A little too "light" for the genre!

Movies that deal with hostage situations are a tricky roll of the dice. Those that work ("The Desperate Hours" and "John Q," to cite two) have characters to which the audience can relate and sympathize with. Even "Phone Booth," a hostage-by-phone thriller was fueled by the revelations about Colin Farrell's character and the mesmerizing voice of Keifer Sutherland on the receiver.

Unfortunately, "The Clearing" doesn't have any of the above. The film does not do enough to build tension or develop the characters beyond the stereotypical. Mirren is, unfortunately, too "cold," befitting her character's realization that her husband supposedly-ended affair is still going on; Dafoe's "Arnold" is fittingly "quirky" as the perpetrator; and Redford's "Wayne" is just not that interesting.

The flashback technique used by the director, though distinctive, added a bit of confusion to an already muddled plot.

I'm only giving the film three stars for each of the award-winning actors.

They, like the audience, deserved better. November 16, 2007

The Clearing is good viewing

I have to admit this one kept me interested.I am a motive kind of guy.Why does a low life take hostage a self made tycoon.Willem Defoe is Arnold a married man who lives with a deaf father who kidnaps Robert Redford and leads his familly in despair and frantic search with the FBI help.Matt Craven is great as the FBI agent.Robert's skin looks like clay makeup in well lit areas.I found that more disturbing than anything else.This is a great character study movie that makes people look at their lives in different light.There is a brief strong language! Oh no! Cover your ears! After that episode I thought this could of gotten away with pg13.Thats Hollywood for you.Maybe if the son would have said Puck instead.Anyway sit back and relax and enjoy the Clearing for its great to see these three stars in action. August 2, 2007

A Great Thriller

I just saw The Clearing for the second time and, I'm glad to say, it works as well as the first time. The plot keeps you intrigued and the characters are compelling, even the laid-off employee who turns to crime. Helen Mirren, Robert Redford and Willem Dafoe, but then again, that's not a surprise.
May 25, 2007

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