The Missing (2003 film)

Last updated

The Missing
Missing ver2.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ron Howard
Written byKen Kaufman
Based on The Last Ride
by Thomas Eidson
Produced by Brian Grazer
Ron Howard
Daniel Ostroff
Starring
Cinematography Salvatore Totino
Edited by
Music by James Horner
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • November 26, 2003 (2003-11-26)
Running time
137 minutes
154 minutes
(extended) [1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Apache
Budget$60 million [2]
Box office$38.4 million [3]

The Missing is a 2003 American Western film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett. It is based on Thomas Eidson's 1996 novel The Last Ride . The film is set in 1885 New Mexico Territory and is notable for the authentic use of the Apache language by various actors, some of whom spent long hours studying it. [4] The film was produced by Revolution Studios, Imagine Entertainment, and Daniel Ostroff Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Releasing). [5]

Contents

Plot

In late 19th-century New Mexico, Samuel Jones arrives at the house of his adult daughter Magdalena "Maggie" Gilkeson, hoping to reconcile with her after abandoning her and her mother decades before. She is unable to forgive him, feeling he caused her mother's early death, and turns him away the next morning. Renegade Apache Pesh-Chidin, alias El Brujo and followers raid the area, killing settlers and taking young women and girls to sell into sex slavery in Mexico. Among those abducted is Maggie's eldest daughter, Lilly. Maggie's rancher boyfriend Brake Baldwin was among the settlers killed. Maggie secures her father's release from jail, and the two decide to go after the abducted girls, taking the youngest daughter Dot with them. The sheriff is unwilling to spare men for the mission.

The party encounter some U.S. Cavalry soldiers at another ranch that was attacked by El Brujo. These men suspect Jones as having led the raiders, but Maggie eases the situation. The lieutenant in charge evades helping them, as he must lead his unit to carry out the forced relocation of captive Native Americans. Maggie, her father, and her younger daughter Dot are the only ones tracking El Brujo and his warriors.

After the three fail to ambush the raiders, they are rescued by Kayitah, a Chiricahua friend of Jones. Kayitah and his son Honesco are also tracking El Brujo because Honesco's fiancee is among the captives. Kayitah and Honesco agree to join Maggie and her family. Kayitah tells her that her father had traveled for some time with his Chiricahua band, who called him Chaa-duu-ba-its-iidan.

Together the two families find and free the women captives. Lilly accidentally alerts the bandits, resulting in the death of Kayitah. The survivors steal El Brujo's horses and flee to the mountains. The Mexican gang arrives to buy the women, and the kidnappers murder them and steal their horses to chase the fleeing women. Jones leads the group to a bluff he knows, with a strong defensive position. The kidnappers can only attack up a steep, narrow path. During a standoff, Jones tries to explain to Maggie why he abandoned the family, saying that Chaa-duu-ba-its-iidan means "shit for luck". Maggie says she does not forgive him.

The group fights off an attack by the remaining kidnappers. Jones and Maggie hold off the attackers, but El Brujo stealthily climbs up the side of the cliff and injures Honesco, while his followers use fire arrows to spread panic in the camp. Maggie heads into the camp to fight El Brujo, but he ambushes her. Jones lights bushes on fire to slow down the attackers, and confronts El Brujo, who had kidnapped his granddaughter. Despite being stabbed, El Brujo gains the upper hand and tries to kill Maggie. Jones intervenes, and he and El Brujo fall off a cliff to their deaths. Maggie shoots at the last remaining kidnappers to scare them off.

Maggie returns home with her father's body, her daughters, Honesco, and the other kidnapped girls.

Cast

Reception

The Missing earned mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, the film has an approval rating of 58% based on 174 reviews; the average rating is 6.10/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "An expertly acted and directed Western. But like other Ron Howard features, the movie is hardly subtle." [6] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 55 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [7] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale. [8] Philip French of The Observer referred to the film as Howard's "finest film to date," [9] and Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune called it the "best and toughest western since Unforgiven ." [10]

The Missing was well received among Native American populations within the United States. Many praised its use of Apache dialect, saying that it was so well spoken it could be understood by most Chiricahua-speaking adults. [4] Actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, Jay Tavare, Simon R. Baker, and others had learned to speak some dialogue in the Chiricahua dialect of Apache; this was used throughout the film. [11] Tavare has noted that only about 300 people are considered fluent speakers of Chiricahua today. Following screenings of the film, Native American students said that it stimulated pride among them because of its authenticity. [4]

The Missing grossed $27 million domestically and $11.4 million internationally for a worldwide total of $38.4 million. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cate Blanchett</span> Australian actress and producer (born 1969)

Catherine Elise Blanchett is an Australian-American actress and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for her versatility across independent films, blockbusters, and the stage. She has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for a Tony Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cochise</span> Apache tribe chief (c. 1805–1874)

Cochise was the leader of the Chiricahui local group of the Chokonen and principal nantan of the Chokonen band of a Chiricahua Apache. A key war leader during the Apache Wars, he led an uprising that began in 1861 and persisted until a peace treaty was negotiated in 1872. Cochise County is named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massai</span> Apache warrior (c. 1847–1906, 1911?)

Massai was a member of the Mimbres/Mimbreños local group of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apache. He was a warrior who was captured but escaped from a train that was sending the scouts and renegades to Florida to be held with Geronimo and Chihuahua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taza (Chiricahua leader)</span> Apache chief (c.1843–1876)

Taza was the son of Cochise, leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen and principal chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache. His mother Dos-teh-seh (“Something-at-the-campfire-already-cooked”), was the daughter of Mangas Coloradas, leader of the Copper Mines and last leader of the Mimbreños local groups of the Chihenne band and principal chief of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apache.

The Last Ride is a western novel by Thomas Eidson, first published in 1995. It is the sequel to St. Agnes' Stand (1994) and is followed by All God's Children (1998).

<i>Im Not There</i> 2007 film by Todd Haynes

I'm Not There is a 2007 musical drama film directed by Todd Haynes, and co-written by Haynes and Oren Moverman. An experimental biographical film, it is inspired by the life and music of American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, with six actors depicting different facets of Dylan's public personas: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw. A caption at the start of the film declares it to be "inspired by the music and the many lives of Bob Dylan"; this is the only mention of Dylan in the film apart from song credits, and his only appearance in it is concert footage from 1966 shown during the film's final moments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Jeffords</span> American Indian agent (1832–1914)

Thomas Jefferson Jeffords was a United States Army scout, Indian agent, prospector, and superintendent of overland mail in the Arizona Territory. His friendship with Apache leader Cochise was instrumental in ending the Indian wars in that region. He first met Cochise when he rode alone into Cochise's camp in 1871 to request that the chief come to Canada Alamosa for peace talks. Cochise declined at least in part because he was afraid to travel with his family after the recent Camp Grant Massacre. Three months later he made the trip and stayed for over six months during which time their friendship grew while the negotiations failed. Cochise was unwilling to accept the Tularosa Valley as his reservation and home. In October 1872, Jeffords led General Oliver O. Howard to Cochise's Stronghold, believed to be China Meadow, in the Dragoon Mountains. Cochise demanded and got the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mountains as his reservation and Tom Jeffords as his agent. From 1872 to 1876, there was peace in southern Arizona. Then renegade Apaches killed Nicholas Rogers who had sold them whiskey and the cry went out to abolish the reservation and remove Jeffords as agent. Tom Jeffords embarked on a series of ventures as sutler and postmaster at Fort Huachuca, head of the first Tucson water company trying to bring artesian water to that city, and as prospector and mine owner and developer. He died at Owl Head Buttes in the Tortolita Mountains 35 miles north of Tucson.

<i>Sherrybaby</i> 2006 film by Laurie Collyer

Sherrybaby is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Laurie Collyer. Screened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2006, the film received a limited release in the United States on September 8, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bascom affair</span> 1861 confrontation between Apache Indians and the US Army

The Bascom Massacre was a confrontation between Apache Indians and the United States Army under Lt. George Nicholas Bascom in the Arizona Territory in early 1861. It has been considered to have directly precipitated the decades-long Apache Wars between the United States and several tribes in the southwestern United States. War was coming with the Chiricahua Apache. The affair led to an open break and open hostilities, but Cochise had previously been peaceful, he had been prudent and avoided raiding Americans. He had, however, stolen livestock from the Overland Mail, from Fort Buchanan and had twice been forced to return stolen stock by Capt. Richard S. Ewell, who swore that if he had to deal with Cochise again, he would strike a blow.

<i>The Battle at Apache Pass</i> 1952 film by George Sherman

The Battle at Apache Pass is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Sherman. The stars are John Lund as United States Army Maj. Colton and Jeff Chandler repeating the role of Apache chief Cochise, whom he had played two years earlier in 20th Century Fox's Broken Arrow. Jay Silverheels also reprised his role of Geronimo from the same film.

<i>Oscar and Lucinda</i> (film) 1997 Australian film

Oscar and Lucinda is a 1997 romantic drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring Cate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes, Ciarán Hinds and Tom Wilkinson. It is based on the 1988 Booker Prize-winning novel Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey. In March 1998, the film was nominated at the 70th Academy Awards for the Best Costume Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suchitra Pillai</span> Indian actress and voice actress

Suchitra Pillai is an Indian actress, model, anchor and VJ. A graduate in electronic engineering from the Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues College of Engineering, Bandra (West), Mumbai, she chose a career in arts over engineering. Apart from movie roles, including Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Page 3 (2005), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), and Fashion (2008), Suchitra is a singer in the Indi pop and rock genre with an album Such is Life released in 2011. She is also an accomplished theater artist.

<i>Adoration</i> (2013 film) 2013 Australian film

Adoration is a 2013 drama film directed by Anne Fontaine. It is Fontaine's first English-language film. It stars Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Ben Mendelsohn, Xavier Samuel, and James Frecheville. The film tells the story of a pair of middle-aged women who are life-long friends and have sex with each other's teenage sons, and the resultant emotional consequences of their ongoing affairs. It is based on a 2003 novella by British writer Doris Lessing called The Grandmothers.

<i>Prisoners</i> (2013 film) American film by Denis Villeneuve

Prisoners is a 2013 American thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Aaron Guzikowski. The film has an ensemble cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Maria Bello.

<i>The Captive</i> (2014 film) 2014 Canadian thriller film by Atom Egoyan

The Captive is a 2014 Canadian thriller film directed by Atom Egoyan with a script he co-wrote with David Fraser. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Bruce Greenwood, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson, Mireille Enos, Kevin Durand, and Alexia Fast. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The film was released in select theaters and on demand on December 12, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Free</span>

Mickey Free, birth name Felix Telles, was an Apache Indian scout and bounty hunter on the American frontier. Following his kidnapping by Apaches as a child, he was raised as one and became a warrior. Later he joined the US Army's Apache scouts, serving at Fort Verde between December 1874 and May 1878 and was given the nickname Mickey Free.

<i>Big Bad Wolves</i> 2013 Israeli film

Big Bad Wolves is a 2013 Israeli black comedy horror-thriller film written and directed by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado, produced by Tami Leon and by Moshe and Leon Edry through their United King Films banner. The film focuses on the story of three Israeli adults who abduct a young school teacher in order to torture and interrogate him about the murder and rape case of a young girl in the woods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cate Blanchett on screen and stage</span>

Australian actress Cate Blanchett has worked extensively on screen and on stage. She made her stage debut in 1992 as Electra in the National Institute of Dramatic Art production of the play of the same name, and followed in 1993 with performances in Timothy Daly's Kafka Dances, for which she won the Sydney Theatre Critics Award for Best Newcomer, and the Sydney Theatre Company stage production of Oleanna, winning Best Actress. She is the first actor to win both awards at once. She went on to perform several other roles on stage, notably Susan Traherne in Plenty (1999), Hedda Gabler in Hedda Gabler (2004), Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (2009), Yelena in Uncle Vanya (2011), and Claire in The Maids (2013).

<i>Hounds of Love</i> (film) 2016 film

Hounds of Love is a 2016 Australian crime thriller film written and directed by Ben Young in his feature directorial debut. The film follows a married couple who kidnap and terrorise a young woman in the suburbs of Perth. It was selected to compete the Venice Days section at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2016, where Ashleigh Cummings won the Fedeora Award for Best Actress.

<i>Looking Glass</i> (film) 2018 American film

Looking Glass is a 2018 American thriller film directed by Tim Hunter and starring Nicolas Cage. It was released in the United States by Momentum Pictures on February 16, 2018.

References

  1. "The Missing (15)". British Board of Film Classification . November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  2. "Howard gets his wish: A rough, tough western". Chicago Tribune . November 30, 2003. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  3. 1 2 The Missing at Box Office Mojo
  4. 1 2 3 Benke, Richard (December 18, 2003). "Apaches laud accuracy in 'The Missing' movie". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  5. "The Missing (2003)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  6. "The Missing (2003)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  7. "The Missing". Metacritic. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  8. "Home". CinemaScore . Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  9. French, Philip (February 28, 2004). "New lessons from the Old West". The Observer. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  10. Wilmington, Michael (November 24, 2003). "Movie review: 'The Missing'". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  11. Konstantin, Phil (September 2004). "Phil Konstantin's Review of The Missing". AmericanIndian.net. Retrieved July 25, 2014.