This…
Movie…
Was…
Very…
SLOW…

The Missing, from director Ron Howard, is a good movie, but man, it drags.
It felt a lot longer than it was. That doesn’t necessarily take away from a great performance by Cate Blanchett, who basically can do no wrong, and a good performance by Tommy Lee Jones, who is creepy…in the film, and just in general.

This is a weird movie in that blends many genres successfully. It appears to be a western, but it feels like a psychological thriller and has splashes of the supernatural and mysticism throughout. I really liked some of the look of the movie…sort of moody, gothic western, with a lot of bare trees on moonlit nights.

Like I said Cate Blanchett does a great job. She’s scarily talented, that one. Evan Rachel Wood, who I guess is the “title character”, does a nice job as well. I’ve been aware of her for a while now, and she’s grown into a good actress, and a lovely young woman.
Tommy Lee Jones also does nice job, but there’s always been something about him that’s rubbed me the wrong way. In this role in particular, it may have been his speech pattern, which is probably deliberate because of the nature of his character, but it didn’t work for me.
Despite the impressive talent of Ms Blanchett, I’d have to give it up for young Ms Jenna Boyd. As Blanchett’s youngest daughter Dot, she really packed a punch. The character is very well written to begin with, but Boyd’s performance is amazing given her youth.
Aaron Eckhart and Val Kilmer are both in The Missing too, and I don’t know why.

I applaud Ron Howard for making a strong, intense, atmospheric film.
I just urge him to pick up the pace next time.