IGN.com|AskMen.com|Rotten Tomatoes|GameSpy|FilePlanet|TeamXbox|CheatsCodesGuides|GameStats|Direct2Drive

RottenTomatoes.com

Register | Log In | What is RT?
It's our 10th birthday, so you get presents!
Home Movies DVD Celebrities News Critics Photos & Trailers The Vine Forums
Box Office | Best Of | Certified Fresh | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
 
MOVIES / ON DVD / THE CLEARING
The Clearing

Rate This Movie

Write a Review
Share This Movie
Add to List
Buy Poster

Bookmark and Share

The Clearing (2004)

45%
50%
58%
N/A
N/A
N/A
45 %
Reviews Counted: 127 Fresh: 57  Rotten:70 Average Rating: 5.6/10
 
Consensus: Though it has an excellent cast, this emotionally detached movie is the kind that one admires more than enjoys.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Synopsis: Wayne and Eileen Hayes (Robert Redford, Helen Mirren) appear to be living the American dream, until that dream becomes a living nightmare. A self-made tycoon, Wayne is seemingly invincible. But all illusions are shattered when he is kidnapped in broad daylight from their peaceful... Wayne and Eileen Hayes (Robert Redford, Helen Mirren) appear to be living the American dream, until that dream becomes a living nightmare. A self-made tycoon, Wayne is seemingly invincible. But all illusions are shattered when he is kidnapped in broad daylight from their peaceful Pittsburgh estate. Under the microscope of a probing FBI investigation and her own painstaking introspection, Eileen too is a victim. Meanwhile, Wayne, with his fate resting in the hands of a kidnapper (Willem Dafoe) who has nothing to lose and everything to gain, finds himself in the most important negotiation ever - for his life.... The film marks the directorial debut for Academy Award®-nominated producer Pieter Jan Brugge (THE INSIDER). The original story was conceived by Brugge and first-time screenwriter Justin Haythe, who wrote the screenplay. Palmer West and Jonah Smith (THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) produced through their company Thousand Words, along with Brugge. Redford most recently starred in SPY GAME and THE LAST CASTLE and received an honorary Academy Award in 2002 for his work with the Sundance Institute. He was nominated for an Oscar® as Best Actor in a Leading Role for THE STING, and won two BAFTAs for Best Actor in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID and THE DOWNHILL RACER. He won the Academy Award, the Directors Guild Award and the Golden Globe® as Best Director for ORDINARY PEOPLE; and was Oscar-nominated as Best Director for QUIZ SHOW, which also earned Golden Globe, DGA and BAFTA nominations. Additionally, he received Golden Globe directing nominations for THE HORSE WHISPERER and A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Mirren received Oscar nominations as Best Supporting Actress for GOSFORD PARK and THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE. Among her many additional accolades in both film and television are seven BAFTA nominations with three wins for Best Actress (PRIME SUSPECT, and PRIME SUSPECT 2 and 3). She recently completed the cable TV remake of THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE. Dafoe portrayed the Green Goblin in the 2002 summer hit SPIDER-MAN. He received a 2001 Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE, and won the Independent Spirit Award, the LAFCA Award and Saturn Award for his unique performance as the vampire/actor. Additionally he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in PLATOON. He will next be seen in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO and AUTOFOCUS. -- © Fox Searchlight [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Helen Mirren, Robert Redford, Willem Dafoe, Alessandro Nivola, Matt Craven

Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter: Justin Haythe
Story: Pieter Jan Brugge
Producer: Palmer West, Jonah Smith, Pieter Jan Brugge, Karen Tenkoff
Composer: Craig Armstrong

DVD Info

Release:

Jul 2, 2006

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen - 1.87

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital Surround - Spanish, French
  • Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - Peter Jan Brugge - Director; Justin Haythe - Writer; Kevin Tent - Editor
  • Behind the Scenes - Fox's Inside Look
  • Deleted Scenes - With Optional Director's Commentary (6)
  • Trailers - Theatrical Trailer

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Additional Text - Screenplay

Reviews

 
T-Meter Critics
 
 
Top Critics
 
 
RT Community
 
 
My Critics
 
 
My Friends
 
 
DVD
 
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
Ratings Image
3/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

What is essentially a fairly standard kidnap drama takes on extra interest due to its superb performances and an intriguing structure.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/19/04
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
2.5/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

Mirren passes through entire scenes without a word, not needing to speak, as every feeling is writ large across her beautifully expressive face.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/16/05
Jeremy C. Fox
Pajiba
Ratings Image
C+

It's pretty bland, even though the trailer would lead you to believe otherwise.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/17/05
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
Ratings Image
3/4

...a very good thriller that could've (and should've) been a great one...

Full Review | comment Comment
01/15/05
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Ratings Image
2/4

[Mirren, Redford, and Dafoe] cannot get a fire going in this cliché-soggy kindling.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/31/04
Jeffrey Overstreet
Christianity Today
Ratings Image
3/5

Lo que mantiene el interés es el cada vez más impredecible comportamiento de la esposa, animada además por una estupenda Helen Mirren (la mejor intérprete de la película).

Full Review | comment Comment
12/26/04
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
Ratings Image
3.5/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
11/22/04
Sunday Times (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

Há dois bons filmes em Refém de uma Vida, mas estes se enfraquecem mutuamente em função da estrutura narrativa adotada pelo cineasta.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/22/04
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
Ratings Image
C

To Read review visit http:/www.EmanuelLevy.com

Full Review | comment Comment
11/14/04
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image
7/10

...may not be the most exciting or well-focused drama of the year, but it manages to engage our intellect most of the time and keep us guessing well up to the end.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/07/04
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
Ratings Image
N/A

Redford and Mirren are equally effective as a couple who should be happy but lack the courage.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/11/04
John Larsen
Light Views
Ratings Image
3.5/4

A haunting film about the evil that men do.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/10/04
Jonathan R. Perry
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
Ratings Image
A-

European sensibility controls The Clearing, a fact that might frustrate American moviegoers who arrive expecting something more flashy.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/23/04
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Ratings Image
B

The Clearing is what it sounds like: stripped of ornamentation, undeluded about its subjects, lucid about the limits of human behavior.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/10/04
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
Ratings Image
N/A

Talky and mawkish.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/08/04
Rex Roberts
Film Journal International
Ratings Image
N/A

A thriller stripped of thrills -- or, even worse, a thriller that thinks of itself as somehow rising above the vulgar pleasures of excitement.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/01/04
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
Ratings Image
N/A

What should make for a taut, suspenseful thriller drowns in an ocean of verbiage.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/31/04
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Ratings Image
2/5

[I]t remains a mystery why anyone thought that this was a story that needed to be told, or who they thought would be engaged by the problems of these bland, distant people.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/28/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums

Someone should label the other thread as a spolier.
by: NNStewart 7/26/04


"THE CLEARING" needs help
by: ralphcramden 7/12/04


Real Boba
MPAA ALERT: 'The Clearing' nabs R-Rating for brief strong language - no sh*t?
by: Real Boba 5/4/04


Real Boba
MPAA ALERT: 'The Clearing' nabs R-Rating for brief strong language - no sh*t?
by: Real Boba 5/4/04
all

Trailers & Clips

The Clearing Trailer
Watch Now >>
all

News

Hopper, Huppert, Keitel & Mirren to Visit "America"
posted by Scott Weinberg May 19, 2005
A fistful of respected acting veterans are set to appear in Jerzy Skolimowski's "America," based on Susan...


McCormack & Cochrane to "Shiver" Together
posted by Scott Weinberg April 29, 2005
Rory Cochrane ("Dazed and Confused") and Mary McCormack ("Private Parts") will co-star in...

Around the Network

• The Clearing at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Clearing at IGN
• The Clearing at AskMen
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | ModCenter | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2008, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.