Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Mike Allen A quick history lesson...On Sept 11 (yes indeed) 1973 at the direct behest of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger... A coup was actioned in the sovereign country of Chile... Something to do with the people electing someone who intended to put people first... Can't have that now can we? Crazy idea.So is this film about how that coup which killed thousands affected the people of Chile.Well don't hold your breath coz this is Hollywood.No this film is about how a single American family was personally (sob) affected (sob, sob) by the events (oh the tears). Didn't Chile's military know that in the American passport it says "No Americans To Be Affected? Duh.So if your looking for the thought provoking historical drama that this could have been then you're in the wrong place.If you want to celebrate spreading freedom and democracy at the barrel of a somebody elses gun then get your pizza, your freedom fries and your cool beer and sit back.All topped off with a typically manipulative soundtrack by Vangelis of course.

gavin6942 When an idealistic writer (John Shea) disappears during the Right Wing military coup in 1973 Chile, his wife (Sissy Spacek) and American businessman father (Jack Lemmon) try to find him.After making many great political thrillers, especially "Z", we finally get one in English. Not that being in English is better than being in any other language, but it does mean it will get a wider audience in the United States. And having both Lemmon and Spacek attached certainly does not hurt.The character played by Jack Lemmon comes off as kind of a jerk, at least for a while. But it is probably a more or less accurate portrayal, because how could any American at the time have suspected that Chile was as awful a place as we now know today that it was?

leplatypus Again a wonderful political red-hot movie from Gavras who really kicks where it hurts : If « Z » was denouncing an clear tyranny in Greece, this one is even more courageous as it denounces an unclear tyranny. If America boasts regularly to be a divine democracy, the reality is that they forget easily those ideals. Either they do aggression as foreign policy, either they support covert operation to change elected representatives for others (usually military) that suit them. To put it clearly, their interests are not people but their banking and military- industrial complex. In Chile, the invisible hand of America in the coup is proved : from Nixon : « if we let potential leaders in south America think they can move like Chile, we will be in trouble. No impression should be permitted in Latin America that they can get away with this, that it's safe yo go this way ». from Kissinger : « Isn't that something ! isn't that something ! I mean instead of celebrating, in the Eisenhower period, we would have been heroes. We didn't do it. I mean we helped them ». So, as shown in the movie, their two framed portraits in all American offices has great meaning. In all cases, this helpful supervision is clearly explained and the puppet masters are famous : one was behind another famous coup and the one is a younger deep throat. I think that the casting of Jack Lemon was best (and worthy of his award in Cannes Festival) because he is indeed the embodiment of the true, candid American. So his search for his son would turn also a a search for truth and his evolution is moving. The Vangelis' score fit this dark and sad reality of loving ones facing an abusive administration. So i recommend this movie and also the book « untold history of the united states » that was very helpful to understand our long time friend overseas.

imbluzclooby Whatever happened during the Allende regime and The Coup De Etat in Chile in the early 70's is open for conjecture in regards to US involvement. I saw 'Missing' in it's initial release back in 82' at the age of 14 and it was a bit over my head. Having watched it again made me question my beliefs and overall ethos of political views. This story, which is adapted from a true story, is intended to assign blame directly at the political powers that be. Whether you are right or left winged in your political stances, you should definitely be concerned about what can possibly happen if you think that being an 'American' automatically protects you from harm by default.What really makes this movie memorable is not so much the political story, because it happens to be very confusing. We are caught in a mishmash of conspiracy theories, paranoia and bureaucratic floundering. If you try to analyze the politics and make sense as the story progresses you will only get more confused and bewildered. Politics is a dirty game where duplicity is prevalent. The average Joe who falls victim will have to bite the dust and be labelled as an anonymous sack who ran in the wrong place at the wrong time. In Charles Horman's case, his quixotic curiosity killed him.What we do know in retrospect is that on one night in September 1973, 50,000 people were rounded up of which 750 were executed. Charles Horman and several other Americans where among them. Historical records are certain that the US was complicit in aiding the Coup effort, but whether they ordered a kill operation intentionally is debatable. Perhaps even implausible.Jack Lemmon is chosen for a role, in utmost poignancy, to be the concerned and frustrated father. Jack Lemmon, who was typically known for more comedic roles, gets another rare shot at flexing his acting chops and he does so with gleaming success. Sissy Spacek does an admirable job at shadowing Lemmon's character with correct composure. The story of these two, father in law - daughter in law, takes precedence while Charles character seems like an afterthought at best. The drama of Ed and beth is what really ignites this film and their personal and harrowing journey of finding Charles. There are two particularly touching and moving scenes between them that i will not mention.I have tried to picture other actors to fit those roles to see if they could have been better cast. I think Jack Lemmon was an absolutely perfect choice. There are a couple of random characters such as Janice Rule and Babcock, whose roles seem rather superfluous to the story. Perhaps they were there to fill up the screen time or help the continuity of the film.But some of these characters just added more unnecessary confusion.I even wonder why 'Missing' was ever made. It could have just easily been a segment on '60 Minutes', but it is stretched out in a 122 minute feature length film.