The Clearing (2004)

Regisseur:

Pieter Jan Brugge

Drehbuchautoren:

Pieter Jan Brugge (story) and
Justin Haythe (story) ...

Premierendatum:

20. August 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

As an executive is held captive by an employee, it's up to his wife to deliver the ransom.

Plot Keywords:

Extramarital Affair | Tense | Negotiation | Marriage Problems | Kidnap

Nutzerkommentare:

Kidnapping as Cross-Class Conflict

Besetzung

Robert Redford	...	Wayne Hayes
Helen Mirren	...	Eileen Hayes
Willem Dafoe	...	Arnold Mack
Alessandro Nivola	...	Tim Hayes
Matt Craven	...	Agent Ray Fuller
Melissa Sagemiller	...	Jill Hayes
Wendy Crewson	...	Louise Miller
Larry Pine	...	Tom Finch
Diana Scarwid	...	Eva Finch
Elizabeth Ruscio	...	Cindy Mack
Gwen McGee	...	Agent Kathleen Duggan
Sarah Koskoff	...	Lane Hayes
Graciela Marin	...	Graciela
Mike Pniewski	...	Detective Kyle Woodward
Geoff McKnight	...	John Dewitt

Alternativ:

Anatomie einer Entführung (Deutschland)

Länge:

95 Min

Produktionsland:

USA | Deutschland

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Farbe

Seitenverhältnis:

1.85 : 1

Tonverfahren:

Dolby Digital

Altersfreigabe:

South Korea:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:R

Drehorte:

Georgia, USA

Firma:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Dies und das:

During the fight scene in the woods, Willem Dafoe actually cracked a rib when Robert Redford's stunt double rammed into him, tackling him to the ground during the shooting.

Pannen:

Verschiedenes: During the scene when Wayne asked Arnold if he could remove his jacket, I noticed he had a gold watch on. Then in the next scene when they were sitting against a tree talking, Wayne had a watch on with a black wristband.

Dialogzitate:

Wayne Hayes: Do you love me?
Eileen Hayes: Yes.
Wayne Hayes: Then I have everything I need.

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Ausschnittsweise enthalten in "Six Feet Under: The Dare (#4.7)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

Kidnapping as Cross-Class Conflict

"The Clearing" is a taut, suspenseful kidnapping story.

But the tension is primarily ratcheted up not by action, but what we learn what stuff each of the characters is made of, particularly as to how superbly Helen Mirren and Willem Dafoe surround Robert Redford.

Ironically, Mirren's husband Taylor Hackford directed a more muddled take on a very similar story line in "Proof of Life," which couldn't decide if it was an action movie or a drama. Here first-time writer Justin Haythe and director Pieter Jan Brugge are more focused, even while playing a few tricks on the viewer with time-shifting "Rashomon" rewinds, though there are a couple of questionable holes in the story as it takes surprising directions.

It's a relief to finally see Redford in a role fitting his age, with an age-appropriate spouse and adult children, including Alessandro Nivola not playing his usual sensual snake. It's nice to see Mirren get to play an attractive, rich matron who can carry off nice clothes and hair styles as she usually hides herself in her roles.