The Missing (2003)
Cate Blanchett, Tommy Lee Jones, Eric Schweig

Can a western be a mystery movie, suspense movie and supernatural movie full of real cowboy action? The answer is a resounding yes, if it is Ron Howard's The Missing.

In The Missing, it is the 1880's and Maggie Gilkeson (Cate Blanchett) a single mom is living in a small isolated town in New Mexico with her two daughters, Lilly and Dot. Maggie exemplifies the fearless, strong and independent woman. When her willful eldest daughter Lilly is kidnapped, Maggie reluctantly turns to her estranged father for help. Her father, Samuel, portrayed nicely by Tommy Lee Jones, sees this as a chance to reenter his daughter’s life and get to know her and his grandchildren. Samuel deserted his family years ago for another woman and now lives as an Apache. His expert tracking skills will be helpful in locating and rescuing his granddaughter.

Kidnapped Lilly (Evan Rachel Wood) proves to be as strong and resourceful as her mother, as she develops her plan escape the cold-eyed and terrifying Indian mystic Pesh-Chidin (Eric Schweig) who has kidnapped her. Scwheig does not get a lot of screen time but once you see him, you won't forget him. He is intimidating and very scary. The mystery surrounding him and his seemingly supernatural powers fits him like a glove. The 6-foot actor is as fascinating as the character he portrays in this film. He is of German and Inuit descent and is a well-known master carver of Inuit Masks and Carvings. See the Eric Schwig Gallery..

All of the performances in The Missing are powerful and moving. Maggie distant, and lonely, but unwilling to commit to the man she allows to share her bed. She is strong and bitter that her father abandoned her. When he tries to reenter her life, she is not welcoming. When she has to turn to him for help, she is resentful. Lilly, who has been kidnapped is frightened, but strong and determined to escape her captors; and Samuel, father and grandfather, who has come to connect once more with the daughter he left behind is stoic and unapologetic. The youngest child, Dot (Jenna Boyd) is simply excited to meet her “Apache” granddad.

This movie did not get all rave reviews; however, it will hold your attention. Lilly’s abduction brings father and daughter to a tentative and uneasy alliance as they join forces to search for the young woman. There are several disturbing scenes in the movie. The most disturbing is when Pesh-Chidin attacks a young mother and her child. Despite the bleakness and the gore, the scenery in The Missing is beautiful.

Talented Ron Howard was born in 1954 and has been directing since 1969. His first film, a very short western (8 to 10 minutes)is titled Old Paint, and is Howard’s first documented attempt at directing. Some of his blockbuster hits are Cocoon (1985), Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001) and the controversial The Da Vinci Code (2006).

Young actress Jenna Boyd won the 2004 Young Artist Award in the category of “Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress” for her performance in The Missing.

Rated R.

-Vanette Ryanes

Vanette Ryanes is a true movie maven. She has been an avid movie fan for more than 35 years and has a video library of 200 plus movies. She has a vast knowledge of classic black and white, noir and vintage color movies. If you have questions about movies contact Vanette, (Vannie to her friends) for answers, advice and recommendations.