Missing Details

Absorbing, slow-burn drama

'A father searches for his son, an idealistic young man with left-wing sympathies, who has gone missing during a military coup in Chile. A dyed-in-the-wool patriot with an instinctive respect for authority, the father's view of the world is turned upsidown when he discovers that American officials may not be telling him the whole truth.' This is an absorbing slow-burn drama which expertly creates an atmosphere of menace and intrigue. The dramatic core of the film is the relationship between the conservative christian scientist father (Jack Lemmon), and his idealistic daughter-in-law (Sissy Spacek). As they search for their son/husband, they cast aside their obvious differences and gradually forge a common bond. As a human drama, this is beautifully acted and very touching without being too weepy. On a historical level, it makes quite explicit claims about American involvement in the coup which may have you reaching for your history book. Incidentally, I found it strange that the film starts out in a 'generic' Latin American country, and then in the final frame refers explicitly to Chile.

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Missing

This is a Boys Own film for men and boys under 20 years. Poorly acted, with a pathetic story line and even worse direction, the characters behave in a manner that no real self respecting adult would do, regardless of the stress of the moment.

If you want a juvenile film about fighting and killing, where the enemy are always defeated, and the good guys always win, then here it is: Take it way - please!