Missing (B or 3/4 stars)
'Missing' (directed by Costa-Gavras, his 1st American-made film) is an emotionally draining, yet thought-provoking 1982 drama based on Thomas Hauser's book, which tells a story of fascism in Chile when the military took over the government to begin a murderous reign of terror. Charles Horman (John Shea) is an idealistic, freelance journalist/filmmaker living with wife, Beth (Sissy Spacek), in a South American country in 1973; some names & places have been changed to protect the innocent & the film. When a bloody military coup d'etat occurs in the capital, the couple decides to leave the country immediately. But before they do, left-wing Charles is abducted by a team of soldiers. In a city under siege, Beth frantically searches for him.
Businessman Edmund Horman (Jack Lemmon, superb) arrives from NY to help search for his missing son. Beth - like her husband, a political liberal - is convinced that the U.S. Embassy consulate is lying when they tell her that the untrustworthy right-wing military regime does not have Charles; they even suggest that he has gone into a sort of hiding. Ed - a conservative - believes in using the proper channels. He & Beth visit hospitals, morgues, and a prescient trip to a soccer stadium where thousands of surmised 'extremists' are being detained {chilling scene}. As they continue their own investigation, Beth becomes even more cynical & Ed grows progressively suspicious of the American officials whose staid desire to help feels forced. Drama ensues.
Costa-Gavras graphically portrays the way a city is ravaged by a military coup. Soldiers randomly gun-down people who break curfew; bullet-ridden bodies litter the war-torn streets; foreigners are not permitted to leave; innocent citizens are afraid to talk to anyone for fear of being arrested; sleep is interrupted by constant gunfire; and friends & relatives of those held in confinement don't know whether the prisoners are dead or alive. Oppression lords over everyone. 'Missing' questions the U.S. policy toward Latin America; how we may align with fascist regimes to protect American business interests. In the end, Ed's faith is shattered as the truth of what happened to Charles is revealed. And the film's last sequence is more disturbing, yet. All throughout the edgy proceedings, music composer Vangelis lends an incredibly moody synthesizer-heavy score that aids the dramatic tone of the movie.
'Missing' refuses to let us look away; forcing us to weigh our own values. The movie distressed me greatly; which may be why I can't give it a high tier critique rating. But it is a quality film, nevertheless. Costa-Gravas handles the material tremendously well; maintaining dramatic tension, dynamic pacing, & getting superlative performances out of Jack Lemmon & Sissy Spacek for maximum emotional impact. Lemmon, so good in The China Syndrome a couple of yrs. earlier, is AS fantastic as the uptight, distraught, conservative man searching desperately with his somewhat estranged daughter-in-law, Beth; Sissy Spacek rivets, as well. Edmund's gradual shift from disapproval of his son's politics/nature to empathy with him is exquisitely portrayed by Lemmon. Lemmon's character was also greatly disappointed by the US government and, in reality, Sec. of State Alexander Haig was forced to issue denials of the film's allegations -- talk about a movie making impact.
Businessman Edmund Horman (Jack Lemmon, superb) arrives from NY to help search for his missing son. Beth - like her husband, a political liberal - is convinced that the U.S. Embassy consulate is lying when they tell her that the untrustworthy right-wing military regime does not have Charles; they even suggest that he has gone into a sort of hiding. Ed - a conservative - believes in using the proper channels. He & Beth visit hospitals, morgues, and a prescient trip to a soccer stadium where thousands of surmised 'extremists' are being detained {chilling scene}. As they continue their own investigation, Beth becomes even more cynical & Ed grows progressively suspicious of the American officials whose staid desire to help feels forced. Drama ensues.
Costa-Gavras graphically portrays the way a city is ravaged by a military coup. Soldiers randomly gun-down people who break curfew; bullet-ridden bodies litter the war-torn streets; foreigners are not permitted to leave; innocent citizens are afraid to talk to anyone for fear of being arrested; sleep is interrupted by constant gunfire; and friends & relatives of those held in confinement don't know whether the prisoners are dead or alive. Oppression lords over everyone. 'Missing' questions the U.S. policy toward Latin America; how we may align with fascist regimes to protect American business interests. In the end, Ed's faith is shattered as the truth of what happened to Charles is revealed. And the film's last sequence is more disturbing, yet. All throughout the edgy proceedings, music composer Vangelis lends an incredibly moody synthesizer-heavy score that aids the dramatic tone of the movie.
'Missing' refuses to let us look away; forcing us to weigh our own values. The movie distressed me greatly; which may be why I can't give it a high tier critique rating. But it is a quality film, nevertheless. Costa-Gravas handles the material tremendously well; maintaining dramatic tension, dynamic pacing, & getting superlative performances out of Jack Lemmon & Sissy Spacek for maximum emotional impact. Lemmon, so good in The China Syndrome a couple of yrs. earlier, is AS fantastic as the uptight, distraught, conservative man searching desperately with his somewhat estranged daughter-in-law, Beth; Sissy Spacek rivets, as well. Edmund's gradual shift from disapproval of his son's politics/nature to empathy with him is exquisitely portrayed by Lemmon. Lemmon's character was also greatly disappointed by the US government and, in reality, Sec. of State Alexander Haig was forced to issue denials of the film's allegations -- talk about a movie making impact.