The Woodsman details

The Woodsman
Format: 15 DVD
Starring: David Alan Grier, Eve, Mos Def, Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Benjamin Bratt
Director: Nicole Kassell
Genre: Drama - Comedy
Studio: PALISADES TARTAN
Collections: Best of London Film Festival, Hidden Gems, London Film Festival, Watch Online Editorial Picks
Name Discs
The Woodsman
15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time: 1 hour 24 minutes
Rental release: 27 May 2005
Main languages: English
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Most helpful review The Woodsman

  • Uncomfortable but necessary viewing

    Rated - 4.0 stars  
    By Philip Concannon from London , 13 Feb 2005

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    'The Woodsman' is a fine debut for director Nicole Kassell and is driven by an exceptional lead performance from Kevin Bacon. He plays Walter, a paedophile who, after being released from a 12 year prison stretch, is struggling to integrate himself back into society. He strikes up a relationship with co-worker Vickie(Bacon's real-life wife Kyra Sedgewick), but finds it increasingly hard to hide the secrets of his past.

    This courageous film doesn't shy away from Walter's daily struggles with his desires and a few scenes where he comes close to re-offending are well handled, particularly an encounter with a young girl on a park bench which is very tense and uncomfortable viewing.

    The film never quite has the courage of it's convictions though, and the too-neat climax disappoints. It's also annoying that most of the major supporting characters that Walter encounters have been affected by child abuse to differing degrees, an unnecessary and awkward element of the screenplay.

    Still, you have to credit all those involved for making such a daring film and one that really deserves to be seen. It's worth watching for Bacon's performance alone(which should have been, but predictably wasn't, Oscar-nominated) and while it's not an easy film, it's a brave and valuable one.
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  • Thought-provoking Drama

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By Abby88 (168 reviews) from Bognor Regis , 07 Feb 2013

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    I don't know why this was called The Woodsman. In the film, they mention The Woodsman as a fairytale character who saved Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf, however Walter doesn't save the boy from the abuser, he just beats the guy up afterwards. He doesn't save Robin from her Dad, he just doesn't hurt her himself. He doesn't rescue anyone so I don't like the title, but the film was alright as a thought-provoker and Kevin Bacon plays his role very well.
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  • Good drama

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By a customer , 19 Jan 2013
    Difficult subject matter. Sadly an unbelievable story of redemption but very well acted and very watchable. Sympathy is created with Kevin Bacon's character from the start found myself rooting for him against my better judgement.
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  • Hard Hitting Performance Kevin!!

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By laneyb (260 reviews) from Rochester, Kent , 11 Nov 2012
    Excellent acting. It was very hard viewing but it must have been hard to play this role, but Kevin Bacon gives a hard hitting professional performance. It certainly opens your eyes to the things that could be happening just down the road from where you live. The fact that you also know nothing about those who move in your vicinity, or even the people who have perhaps lived within your vicinity for many years!

    Kevin plays the part so well in depicting how a person can move on with his life after such a cruel act, and the tremendous effort to keep from repeating such an horrendous crime.
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  • hard but worth it

    Rated - 4.0 stars  
    By tombonow (1 review) , 09 Oct 2012
    Great film. Its does settle for an 'easy'-ish answer but it needs to otherwise it would be too painful to watch and pointless, especially as Bacon is such a good actor that you feel sympathetic for him.

    Hard viewing but worth it.
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  • Thought provoking and interesting.

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By a customer , 03 Sep 2012

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    This film makes you think rather a lot about how it must be for people who are living lives like this. Whilst you still wouldn't give sympathy I suppose it does draw attention to the fact that it is an illness.
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