MISSING (1982, USA/Mexico, 122m, 15) ****
Biography, Drama, Thriller
dist. Universal Pictures (USA), United International Pictures (UIP) (UK); pr co. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment / Universal Pictures / Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.; d. Costa-Gavras; w. Costa-Gavras, Donald E. Stewart (based on the book by Thomas Hauser); pr. Edward Lewis, Mildred Lewis; ph. Ricardo Aronovich (Technicolor | 1.85:1); m. Vangelis; ed. Françoise Bonnot; pd. Peter Jamison; ad. Lucero Isaac, Agustín Ituarte.
cast: Jack Lemmon (Ed Horman), Sissy Spacek (Beth Horman), Melanie Mayron (Terry Simon), John Shea (Charles Horman), Charles Cioffi (Captain Ray Tower), David Clennon (Consul Phil Putnam), Richard Venture (U.S. Ambassador), Jerry Hardin (Colonel Sean Patrick), Richard Bradford (Andrew Babcock), Joe Regalbuto (Frank Teruggi), Keith Szarabajka (David Holloway), John Doolittle (Dave McGeary), Janice Rule (Kate Newman), Ward Costello (Congressman), Hansford Rowe (Senator), Tina Romero (Maria), Richard Whiting (Statesman), Martin LaSalle (Paris), Terence Nelson (Colonel Clay), Robert Hitt (Peter Chernin).
Costa-Gravas’ politically charged telling of this true story set in 1973 sees U.S. businessman Ed Horman (Lemmon) arrive in Chile to look for his missing son, Charles (Shea), a writer looking to highlight America’s role in a military coup. Charles’ wife, Beth (Spacek), has been looking for her husband for some time, but her requests for help from the U.S. consulate have thus far produced few results. As Ed and Beth try to figure out what really happened to Charles, Ed suspects that the American officials may know more than they’re telling. A strong script gives Lemmon and Spacek plenty of material to demonstrate their acting chops and the pair turn in excellent and believable performances. Lemmon, in particular, gets to grips with the contradiction of Ed’s idealistic faith and his gradual realisation that Spacek’s cynicism is not without a solid foundation. Vangelis provides a minimal but affecting musical theme. Aronovich’s photography is occasionally a little too soft-focused for its subject matter, but otherwise is commendable in capturing a country in crisis. Filmed in Mexico.
AA: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Costa-Gavras, Donald E. Stewart)
AAN: Best Picture (Edward Lewis, Mildred Lewis); Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Lemmon); Best Actress in a Leading Role (Sissy Spacek)
