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Movies / On DVD / Missing
Missing

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Missing (1982)

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Reviews Counted:26

Fresh:25

Rotten:1

Average Rating:7.6/10

Consensus: Thanks in large part to strong performances by Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon, Missing is both a gripping character exploration and an effective political thriller.

Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Director Constantin Costa-Gavras made his English-language film debut with this political thriller, based on a true story. Although the nation depicted is never named directly, the action clearly... Director Constantin Costa-Gavras made his English-language film debut with this political thriller, based on a true story. Although the nation depicted is never named directly, the action clearly takes place in Chile after the military coup. "Missing" centers around the disappearance of Charles Horman, an American expatriate who lives with his wife Beth in South America. One night, armed soldiers enter their home and drag him away. In desperation, Beth decides to contact Charles's father, Ed, and ask for help. In contrast to his left-wing daughter-in-law, Ed is staunchly patriotic. But as he gets the runaround from both American and Chilean officials, Ed receives a cold, hard lesson in political reality... and learns some ugly truths about US involvement in Latin America. [More]

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, John Shea, Melanie Mayron

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, John Shea, Melanie Mayron

Director: Costa Gavras

Director: Costa Gavras

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Missing

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Spacek and Lemmon are fine as the missing man's wife and father, but what makes the film so overwhelming in places is its unending night-time imagery of a society coming apart at the seams.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lemmon temporarily abandons the comic performances that made his name to deliver a tour-de-force of considerable power...

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A story that could have made for a brisk jeremiad on 60 Minutes is stretched to 122 minutes of heroes fuming and villains purring their oleaginous apologies. Spacek and Lemmon, an appealing sweet-and-sour combo, sink in the swamp of good intentions.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment 1 Comment
03/29/09
Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though Costa-Gavras clearly has a political axe to grind, he manages to do so without haranguing the viewer, keeping the film's focus on his characters and masterfully building tension as the story moves toward its stinging resolution.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
03/29/09
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lemmon is superior as a man facing up to issues he never wanted to confront personally.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

engrossing, fascinating, and endlessly tragic.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/23/08
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Lemmon and Spacek are the film's highlight... It's a winning formula, and it's too bad that there isn't more of it.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
10/24/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

No review available.

comment Comment
02/02/08
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

In Costa-Gavras's fact-inspired political melodrama, Jack Lemmon gives one of his strongest performances as a naive, conservative American who gets rude political awakening when his leftist son is executed with the tacit knowledge of the US government

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
06/12/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Time has not only been kind to the film, but has, -- unfortunately -- made it relevant all over again.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
09/20/06
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
02/13/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

Terrific work from Lemmon and Spacek highlights Costa Gavras' American debut.

comment Comment
03/21/05
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online

No review available.

comment Comment
02/07/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

This movie might have really been powerful, if it could have gotten out of its own way.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
05/28/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A gutsy, surprising piece of work, a bold political tract that doubles proficiently as an interpersonal drama.

Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
05/22/04
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

No review available.

comment Comment
04/07/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
02/27/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Some tragic and disturbing films stick with you, long after you’ve seen them, filling you with dread and a wish that they don’t represent real life.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
06/14/03
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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