Memorable, crazy movie

Good concept, poorly executed.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Growing up in the Fifties as the USA hunkered down in the Cold War it was a nostrum repeated to us time and again that no country ever chose Communism by a democratic election. When the people of Chile elected Marxist Salvador Allende with a plurality of the vote that could no longer be said. But for the USA Allende maybe because he was elected and not part of a coup he was like an aberration that had to be expunged one way or another. In the world of geopolitics Chile would be quite a prize for the other side. It's one of the leading suppliers of copper and probably the leading supplier to the world of nitrates. Can't let that country go red.So with this in mind our Central Intelligence Agency directed a military coup against Allende who either committed suicide or was murdered by those who rose against him. A very brutal dictator named Augusto Pinochet took over and his reprisals were long and bloody. Sometimes they extended to foreigners as they did in Missing.The story of Missing concerns the father and the wife of the missing John Shea who was a free lance journalist who like so many simply vanished when it was known he was an opponent of the regime. John Shea is seen at the beginning of Missing and he's a guy who hasn't quite settled down and thinking maybe this free lance journalism is what I'm meant for, finally. He fails to listen to the advice a few friends to be more discreet and not so obviously noting down the answers people give him.When he goes missing his father played by Jack Lemmon comes down from America and joins Sissy Spacek who is Shea's wife. Father and daughter-in-law search everywhere and are given nothing but stonewalling answers from the Chileans and the American officials on the scene. What Shea's cardinal sin was the discovery of those unofficial Americans on the scene, mostly of military background which contrasts the official line that America had not a thing to do with Allende's overthrow. Lemmon and Spacek got Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress for Missing. Lemmon who most people identify with as a comic actor kept surprising us his entire life with dramatic performances that were special. The politics of Missing are diverted when Lemmon is on and we concentrate on a father's overwhelming grief and confusion over the fate of his son. He knows the worst has happened, that's confirmed by all he sees. Yet Lemmon's expressions tell all and the same could be said for Sissy Spacek.Missing was also up for Best Picture and did win an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was up that year against the grand pageantry of Gandhi as were a few other worthwhile films. Missing is one unsavory story that should be told and retold.

You Can Opt for Encyclopedic Analysis of this Controversial Film and contemplate "Accusations" and Denials about the Real-Life Story of a "Missing" Left-Wing leaning Journalist in a Latin American Country and consider its Implications and Political Stance.But the Film can be Viewed as an Amalgamation of Historical Events Portrayed in a "Twilight Zone" Format. You get the Feeling while Watching this Gripping Movie that it is Not Real and Taking Place in an Alternate Universe, Surreal.There are Lies and more Lies, Deception from Everyone of the "Higher-Ups". Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek are the Investigators of the Husband/Son that Disappeared Without a Trace. This Happened right after a Right Wing Coup and its Aftermath is the Stage that the Close, but Different, Duo find Themselves at Odds.The Filming is Not Really Documentarian, it is more like a Subtle Displacement of Reality with Images that are a Heightened Reality of a Certain Reality of Thuggery...on the Street Murders and Subjugation of Regular Citizens who Find Themselves Out After Curfew.The Film Contains Great Performances, a Haunting Score by Vangelis, and enough Mystery and Diabolical Intrigue to render this bit of Faction and its Display of an Onslaught On Freedom, a Profound Picture that is Must Viewing for Politicos and History Buffs.Note...Any Film denounced by Alexander Haig is one that is definitely worth seeing.

Imagine living in a country whose Socialist government is toppled in a US-backed military coup. Here is the based-on-truth story of Charles Holman, a somewhat naive New Yorker who, for unclear reasons, is living in Chile when a ruthless junta takes over. Suddenly anyone out on the streets after curfew is in danger of being shot. Probably Holman, who dabbled in writing, saw things that were threatening to the regime or its ties to the US. He winds up being one of thousands summarily executed under Pinochet's reign of terror, only to be buried in a wall. There is a convincing performance here from Jack Lemmon, who starts out being resentful about the inconvenience his only child has brought about. Gradually he comes to admire the feistiness of his cynical daughter-in-law, played a little tediously by Sissie Spacek, as they try to learn the fate of their loved one. Experiencing the horror of a society under siege is the most memorable thing about this film. =================================== From Wikipedia: "Missing," a film based on the life of U.S. journalist Charles Horman, who disappeared in the aftermath of the Pinochet coup.

In comparison with recent Argo, for example... Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, however, give a magnificent performance helping to bring the movie beyond blunt anti-U.S. attitudes. In the event of coups, dictatorships etc. there are - sadly enough - there are victims on all sides and even a holding of a citizenship of a friendly country does not automatically grant extra privileges.As the plot is based on true story and if you know the background, you know the course of events and the ending as well. I did not and so everything was thrilling to monitor as there were no indications if/when someone gets hurt or killed, or not. There are plenty of moments where the options are 50:50 - as during military-related situations, soldiers may act as they please without fearing to be punished.Nevertheless, Missing can be considered as a gifted political movie - Costa-Cavras has always been a sign of quality.