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The Clearing
The Sundance Kid Still Has Sting

Starring: Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, Willem Dafoe, Matt Craven, Alessandro Nivola, Melissa Sagemiller
Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter: Justin Haythe

Reviewed by Chris Ching

It's hard for anyone born in the 1980s to picture it, but Robert Redford was the Brad Pitt of his generation. Sure, the Sundance Kid may look a little sun scarred these days, but the old pro still has the juice in this taut, low key thriller.

As the movie opens we're introduced to Wayne Hayes, your average affluent white family guy with a loving wife Eileen (Helen Mirren), money, and a real, nice pool. Everything in Wayne's world (hehe couldn't resist) seems to be cake until he disappears, and his family receive a ransom note. At this moment, the movie breaks into two separate films with the antagonism between Paul and his captor (Willem Dafoe) on one side, and Eileen's anguish and struggle to get him back on the other.

The Clearing is all about juxtaposing the truth and the real facts lying behind the surface as Wayne is revealed to not be the Ward Cleaver he was originally thought to be. Redford is great in his scenes with Dafoe showing a fire we've haven't seen in years. For his part, Dafoe wonderfully portrays the "loser" Arnold, the flip side of a coin shared by Redford's character.

When The Clearing sticks with the two actors, the movie does just fine. However toward the end, Eileen's Ransom like storyline overwhelms the movie which ends in a less than successful way. No blame should be left at the door of the gifted Ms. Mirren since she's only doing her best within the confines of the script.

Still, if you're weary of the typical summer movie bombast and are looking for a finely acted drama with just the right amount of twists and turns, then make a beeline for The Clearing.

Oh God, that was cheesy.

Rating:

(2 1/2 out of 4 stars)

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