Review of The Clearing (2004) by Cameron L — 27 Aug 2010

The Clearing is excellent. But let us rename it. Call it "Rich People Suffering".

Don't get too close to your captors.. you may get to feel their pain, even though they hold a gun on you almost constantly. If you are looking for a reason not to get kidnapped, watch this movie. Clearly, this film should have won an Oscar somewhere along the way. I have seen many a film not nearly as impressive get mentioned for one.

I found the film to be first rate cine, beyond the pale as for keeping me interested. Of course, I like Redford, which keeps me interested to a fault. Defoe is excellent, as the mastermind of this kidnapping. I found it captivating that he kept talking so much to Redford through the hike in the woods. This is supremely uncharacteristic of a killer.. And why would he kill the one thing that would bring him the ransom... because the wife... the wife that gives up on her husband for infidelity.... goes to great lengths to give the FBI the slip and co-operate with the kidnapper.

I never understood why Redford, the captured, wants to speak such deep thoughts with his captor. Also, why try and ambush this guy when you have an entire woods to hide in. I would have never tried to ambush this lunatic.

This film is about anyone that is in panic mode and does what the kidnapper wants, regardless of sanity.

The subject folks are rich.... not born rich but self made rich. But envy is the coin of the realm and they are targets none the less.

Get this movie and see if you don't agree... it was well worth watching.