The Missing (2003/I)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Eidson (novel)
Ken Kaufman (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

How far would you go, how much would you sacrifice to get back what you have lost?

Plot:

In 1885 New Mexico, a frontier medicine woman forms an uneasy alliance with her estranged father when her daughter is kidnapped by an Apache brujo.

Plot Keywords:

New Mexico | Apache | Grandfather Granddaughter Relationship | Gagged And Bound | Barn

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones	...	Samuel Jones / Chaa-duu-ba-its-iidan
Cate Blanchett	...	Magdalena Gilkeson
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lilly Gilkeson
Jenna Boyd	...	Dot Gilkeson
Aaron Eckhart	...	Brake Baldwin
Val Kilmer	...	Lt. Jim Ducharme
Sergio Calderón	...	Emiliano
Eric Schweig	...	Pesh-Chidin / El Brujo
Steve Reevis	...	Two Stone
Jay Tavare	...	Kayitah
Simon Baker	...	Honesco, Kayitah's son
Ray McKinnon	...	Russell J. Wittick
Max Perlich	...	Isaac Edgerly
Ramon Frank	...	Grummond
Deryle J. Lujan	...	Naazhaao / 'Hunter'

Also Known As:

The Last Ride (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

137 min | 154 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG (uncut) | Malaysia:U (cut) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (certificate 96827/K) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40119)

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

Tommy Lee Jones, Eric Schweig, David Midthunder and Val Kilmer have all appeared in the Lonesome Dove films. Jones appeared in 'Lonesome Dove (1989) (TV)', Schweig appeared in "Dead Man's Walk (1996) (TV)', and Midthunder and Kilmer appeared in 'Comanche Moon (2008) (TV)'.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When reading from the Bible while her mother is ill, fighting the power of the Brujo, Dot is reading from Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, but the Bible she is holding is opened near the end of the Old Testament.

Quotes:

Samuel Jones: You take this money for your children.
Maggie Gilkeson: No, you take it for your funeral.

Movie Connections:

Edited into New Frontiers: Making 'The Missing' (2004) (V)

A slice of TRUE western history, finally brought to life...

As a 'local' – Arizona – long-time US southwestern resident and historian, I have to bite my lip occasionally at many of the ridiculous reviews for this excellent Ron Howard film.

It's so easy to spot the ignorant…

For all their emotion about this film, most reviewers' clichés, inaccurate statements, mistaken references, mis-understood, mis-referenced or mis-opted views of 'Western movies' (let alone, southwestern history, and general mis-direction of history en toto), grossly reveal the puerile, Hollywood brain-damage…

Pity … they could have learned a lot if they only KNEW. Not only is Ron Howard's effort well-directed, it's very historically accurate. Point-in-fact: his acting crew, notably Tommy Lee Jones, had to learn whole sentences/paragraphs in the Apache-ne-Athe(p/b)ascan derivative language (as well as their meanings), in not just short, 'indian' phrases as in most 'Western-style' films, but to those which accurately depict the spoken word of the time. None less than Elbys Huger, Berle Kanseah and Scott Rushforth did Howard employ as linguist-teachers for the actors for accuracy (please, do your research). In addition, western settlers at that time on the southern borders of New Mexico and Arizona were vilely subjected to early forms of terrorism in the southwest – including what you see on-screen. Those bands of Mescalero/Chiricahua natives were normally (though not totally) averse to kidnapping young, white females of European descent for slave-trading from western settlers (as well, married adult females). However, and in particular addition, rituals of northern-Sonoran Indians – Yaqui (there were other tribes) – vastly apart from Cochise's band of Chiricahua Apaches, were especially ruthless against 'whites', employing those very diatribes Eric Schwieg (aka, 'el brujo', 'Pesh Chidin') perpetrated against western immigrants. And, BTW, Schwieg was absolutely SUPERIOR in the role – the man surely deserved not only credibility, but Oscar consideration – he is that good; if you knew only a sliver of southwestern history, you'd know his portrayal is not only authentic, but well-portrayed (eastern-USers, Canadians, take note – you've no conscience of southwestern US history unless you've studied/lived it – mark my word, Pilgrim).

Re/ The Entertainment value: - TLJones: always a distinct pleasure, thank you Thomas – extraordinarily well-done, and one of your very best efforts – applauses; how-went the linguistics for the film? - Ms. Cate Blanchett: as well, extraordinary effort; you are, still, a gem-in-the making, and exceptionally well-suited for the part – truly, WELL DONE …you exemplified the character. Where did you learn about the southwest of the US??) - Jay Tavare: your portrayal of 'Kayitah' was exemplary and believable. Nice going! You have more Hollywood parts in your future – stay with it. - Steve Reevis: "Two Stone" – you should have been cast earlier in larger roles. Enjoyed you in 'Last of the Dogmen' - Even, Jenna: stay with it - in a few years you may think about changing your mind – maybe even now; you both have the energy – how badly do you want it??

9.5/10 -- believe it; or buy a history book and educate yourself about the REAL southwestern US