The Clearing
2004
***
Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Cast: Robert Redford, Willem Dafoe, Helen Mirren, Alessandro Nivola
A kidnapper and a wealthy businessman make their way through the woods to a hideaway, while the victim's wife tries to cope with the situation at home. This interesting drama cleverly manipulates the viewer's concept of time but doesn't quite pull it off. However, there's much to enjoy, such as the performances by Redford, Dafoe and Mirren. Furthermore, the perpetrator is not your average villain but a layered character; we may not approve of his actions but we perhaps understand what drove him to it.
