Rating: 
Summary: Hoping for the full ending...
Review:
I saw this movie in the theater when it was released and was incredibly moved by it.
When I saw the movie years later on TV, the ending I remembered was conspicuously absent, likely due to scheduling timeslots. In the theater ending, Jack Lemmon does a voice-over explaining what happened after he and Beth left Chile. I do hope that the DVD will include this original ending because it really "puts a period on the end of the sentence" and invites the viewer to open their eyes just a little bit wider to the world in which we live. MISSING will give viewers a sense of what it's like to live in a country that doesn't have the same freedoms we do here in the US but does not shirk its responsibility to identify why we do business in these countries.
It's a very sobering film and I would recommend it to high school age and up. Great cinematography, haunting music, lots of tension.
Rating:
Summary: MISSING is left-wing propaganda? Not by a long shot!
Review: Based on the true story of Charles Horman,a young American journalist who mysteriously vanished during Chile's 1973 coup and was later found dead, MISSING is an extremely well-constructed political drama--the first American film from Greek director Costa-Gavras (Z, STATE OF SIEGE).John Shea portrays Charles Horman, who, while covering Chile with a friend (Melanie Mayron), disappears from view, causing his wife (Sissy Spacek) to ask for help from Shea's staunch "my country right or wrong" father Ed (Jack Lemmon). Lemmon openly disapproves of Shea's and Spacek's political views and staunchly supports the preservation of the American way of life. Unfortunately, his rose-colored view of his country slowly but surely come apart as he and Spacek, who are initially at considerable odds, unravel bit by bit important details. As one Chilean informant tells them, Shea disappeared because "he knew too much." He knew that thousands of innocent people were being murdered by the new Chilean government, a staunch right-wing one that ousted a far more Marxist regime led by Salvador Allende. Eventually, MISSING comes to a point of increased sadness and anger, as Lemmon comes to realize that not only was Shea killed (in the national soccer stadium), but that his own government probably had a hand in doing it. The unfolding tragedy brings Lemmon and Spacek together in the end. A very poignant and highly dramatic story, with a fine score by Vangelis, MISSING also boasts typically top-of-the-line performances by Lemmon and Spacek, who have never been anything less than watchable. The script by Costa-Gavras and Donald Stewart (the latter of whom would do the adaptations of three Tom Clancy novels in the 1990s), won a richly-deserved Oscar for adapted screenplay (from Thomas Hauser's similarly-titled novel). As to the previous reviewer's attack on the film as left-wing propaganda, I honorably but strongly disagree with that notion. The facts have shown that the U.S. government supported the coup against Allende only because he believed in communism, but the regime that came to power then systematically trampled over the basic human rights of its people. And here, it very well may have contributed to the death of a young American--and the U.S. government turned its back on that man! No government anywhere in the world, anti-communist or otherwise, is worth American support if it ignores human rights. THAT is the political arguement clearly at the heart of this excellent 1982 drama.
Rating:
Summary: Shattering, powerful, and more important than ever
Review: Based on Thomas Hauser's book, "The Execution of Charles Horman: An American Sacrifice", Costa Govras' MISSING caused a sensation when it was first released. Winner of the Palm D'Or, and nominated for a slew of Oscars, the film details the true events of Charles Horman, a 31 year old filmmaker and writer who, along with his wife, were living in Chile when the Allende government was overthrown in a bloody coup d'etat on (ironically) Sept. 11, 1973. Horman disappeared soon after, leaving his wife Joyce (named Beth in the movie) and father in a desperate search to find him amidst the tumultuous political terror of the Pinochet regime. Led in circles by incompetent US embassy and government officials, it becomes clear that the United States may very well have conspired in Horman's disappearance...
With the recent events of Pinochet's hopeful trial for crimes against humanity, and the obvious occupation of Iraq under the Bush administration, MISSING remains a political powerhouse. But the film also works on a very human level -- how a father comes to learn more about his son than he ever imagined, and the terrible knowledge that our country participated in the overthrow of one of the oldest Democratically-elected governments in favor of a tyrant who killed thousands of human beings.
Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek are at the top of their form, and Vangelis provides a simple, haunting score.
For more information on the Horman case, go to "The Charles Horman Truth Project" at http://www.hormantruth.org/index.htm. Also, I strongly recommend the book, "The Pinochet File" at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565845862/qid=1101237538/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-2695843-3789511?v=glance&s=books&n=507846.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and touching movie
Review: First of all, this review is based on the VHS version. I am trying to decide on what extras are included on the DVD before purchasing it.
This is one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. Its a story about disillusionment with ones government seen through the eyes of a father, Ed Hormann (Jack Lemmon) searching for his son, Charles Hormann, in the aftermath of the CIA sponsored overthrow of the Allende Government in Chile, 1972.
Helping him bridge the gap between his utopian view of the United States as promoter and savior of democracy and his son's leftward leaning, Vietnam War era generation view of the world is his daughter in law, Beth Hormann, (Sissy Spacek).
Throughout the ordeal of their search Jack Lemmons character has his eyes pried open to what is happening and he gains respect and admiration for the strength of his son and, especially, his daughter in law, where before existed only contempt at their choice of a "bohemian" lifestyle.
This is based on a true story and the story is continuing to unfold. With immunity being stripped from General Pinochet, many of the documents and witnesses surrounding the events leading up to the roundup and execution of these "leftists" are being brought to light and used against the former dictator in both criminal and civil suits; one of which is based on the events of this movie.
I highly recommend this movie as a human drama and as a historical reference. I can't imagine someone watching this movie and not doing a google search for the true story of these events. When I saw this movie during its general release I ran to the library to do research on the facts surrounding this sad chapter in US diplomacy.
If you do, we all keep Charles Hormann alive in some way.
Rating: 
Summary: A Reluctant Four Stars
Review: Following my first viewing of this movie, I was angry. At the filmmaker. There are two sides to every story, but obviously such common sense is lost on director Costa-Gavras, whose radical and anti-American agenda is the motor that drives the story for MISSING--a film that remains as controversial as its award-winning release more than two decades ago.
Don't get me wrong. Was there despicable behavior on the part of the U.S. government during the CIA-backed coup in Chili back in 1973? You bet. Was American involvement in the overthrow of a democratically elected government a serious mistake? In hindsight, yes. Yet Costa-Gravas' portrayal of bloodthirsty soldiers gunning people down in the streets--with the duplicitous approval of evil American officials--creates more questions than answers. And the film suggests the Americans gave tacit approval for the execution of fellow citizens by the new regime, an outstanding assertion that was implied, but never proven--particularly by Costa-Gravas. Further eroding the credibility of the film was the alleged "idealistic" presence of Americans living in Chili prior to Allende's ouster. So these people were there to bask in and appreciate and study a South American socialist paradise? Nothing more? Hmmm?
But enough whining. Once I got over the political agenda of this film I concentrated on the story--of a man and his daughter-in-law going on an agonizing journey to find both a son and a husband. When young Charlie Horman (John Shea) suddenly disappears shortly following the military coup, his father, Ed (Jack Lemmon), travels to Chili to personally look for his son. Ed is a consummate American patriot; he believes in the inherent goodness of his government, and he also disapproves of the lifestyle and politics of his son and daughter-in-law, Beth (Sissy Spacek). It becomes apparent that Ed and Charlie were fairly estranged, yet the father learns more and more about his son--and his daughter-in-law--in his hopeless quest. I despise government bureaucracy, and Ed has to confront it in spades: never-ending red tape, misinformation, lack of cooperation, even callousness, from his own embassy and consulates. On top of what appears to be a cover-up, Ed and Beth must deal with the constant stress of uniformed thugs in the streets, of going through hospitals, and then morgues, as the somber realization slowly comes to clarity: that Charlie will not be found.
Jack Lemmon is brilliant in this film. He vividly creates the anguish of a father looking for his son; several of his scenes, particularly in the latter stages of the movie, are heartbreaking. Spacek is equally good as a loving wife--as a daughter-in-law who gains more and more respect from Ed. MISSING is compelling and spellbinding drama, and despite my discomfort with its politics I recommend it.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: The sadness of my own memories
Review: Let me be honest with you: this movie is a hard movie for a chilean to watch. I was 12 at that time, when my own father was arrested the day after the Coup. Although americans may think that the movie is propagandistic, with my hand on my heart, I tell you: this movie is a timid and sensitive portrait of the fear half of the chileans felt those days. The other half, were happy and enjoying the change. And that division in our country, is also very hard to understand and to swallow, after so many years. The tensions betweeen Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek are very similar to the ones seen in the novel of Isabel Allende (The House of the Spirits), between the patriarch who supports the coup and his own daughter who is married to an insurgent. To see this movie, you should have an open heart. And handle to see a story told by the losers of that time.
Rating:
Summary: Still timely, gripping political thriller
Review: Missing is more timely than ever. As of this writing (December 2004) the notorious Chilean dictator Pinochet is now on trial for crimes against humanity in his native country where, if justice prevails, he will be dealt with harshly. In this film, set in an unnamed country but obviously Chile (the cities of Vina del Mar and Santiago are referred to explicitly), Charlie Horman and his wife Beth have come to live, circa the mid to late 70s, and it is there that Charlie goes missing.
The extreme violence of the regime is depicted well here--people are executed both on- and off-screen--but even more piercing is the intentional, cold callousness of the obviously complicitous Americans with titles--either military or political--who think nothing of mentioning a freight charge to an American who has just recently found out about the death of his son and wants the body sent back to the US.
In probably his best dramatic performance on film, Jack Lemmon portrays Ed Horman, Charlie's father, who, with Beth, initiates a search for his missing son. At first dismissive of Beth's clearly liberal politics, he quickly comes to understand the reason for her cynicism. In the face of harsh indifference, brutal lies, and extreme violence, his humanity emerges and we see a man at the end of his tether expressing what is deepest and truest in his heart.
Sissy Spacek as Beth is also very fine, as is the supporting cast--John Shea as Charlie, Charles Cioffi as the snide Major Towers, Joe Regalbuto as a friend of Charlie's who refuses to accept just how bad things are, and David Clennon as a particularly obnoxious American diplomat. But this is a tour-de-force for Jack Lemmon and he is absolutely riveting.
In this film, Costa-Gavras has gravitated from the somewhat one-dimensional--though groundbreaking--focus in Z on political corruption to political violence that directly impacts the lives of two individuals who respond humanly to it. This gives the film a profound emotional depth that we did not see in Z, and makes it supremely compelling. Though Z is a great film, this, I feel, is far superior; I count it as Costa-Gavras' best, in fact.
Based on true events, Missing is a powerful film that will stand the test of time for decades to come. One of the best films of the 80s--highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, in spite of bare-bones DVD
Review: The film itself stands up remarkably well, with compelling and powerful performances of Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. Lemmon plays the father, and Spacek the wife, of an American citizen who goes missing during the early days of the military coup in Chile. I think it's one of Lemmon's greatest roles, and the way that his relationship with Spacek evolves is both credible and moving. Director Costa-Gavras makes a political statement that's as powerful as the one he made in his classic film "Z" (another great movie, which received better treatment in its DVD release than "Missing").
The video transfer is adequate, if not state-of-the-art. The image lacks clarity, and the colors seem muted, but this fits the tone of the film. The audio track is mediocre, and I found I had to frequently adjust the volume in order for it to be audible.
The real disappointment with this DVD is the total lack of even the most rudimentary DVD features. There is no menu. You insert the DVD, and the film begins. While there are chapters, there is no chapter listing anywhere, so you must move through them with the DVD's controls, not knowing where you will end up until you get there.
There are no audio options (English mono only), no subtitles, and of course, no special features. Even with the substandard DVD presentation, I still must give this 5 stars, because it's a film that I have always loved and couln't wait for it to appear on DVD. I only paid $8 for the DVD at a local bookstore, so I am not really complaining, but be warned that this DVD gives new meaning to the term "bare bones".
If you're a fan of the movie, you will probably get this while it's available, since it is unlikely that it will re-appear in a special edition. If you have never seen the film, rent it or buy it just to see Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek in outstanding performances.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: This might be my favorite Sissy Spacek movie. The suspense and sense of doom are maintained throughout and the evolving relationship between Sissy and Jack Lemmon might be the highlight of the movie. The characters of the American officials who are anything but honest are effectively portrayed. Another highlight is the seemingly unlikely Sissy performing another of her brief, but perfectly appropriate nude scenes (in the bathtub. One of the rare actresses who retains her innocent wholesomeness in the all-together.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE
Review: Thought-provoking,shocking,and brave. As relevant today as it was when it first appeared in the early 1980's. The fact that this movie will most likely not be available outside the U.S. and Canada says a mouthful. There is no way you can walk away from this movie and not be disturbed.
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