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The Missing
2003 135 min United States of America R 16+
★6.4
Thriller, Western, Adventure
Director: Ron Howard
🎭 Based on
«The Last Ride»
byThomas Eidson
Trailers
Description
When rancher and single mother of two Maggie Gilkeson sees her teenage daughter, Lily, kidnapped by Apache rebels, she reluctantly accepts the help of her estranged father, Samuel, in tracking down the kidnappers. Along the way, the two must learn to reconcile the past and work together if they are going to have any hope of getting Lily back before she is taken over the border and forced to become a prostitute.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$27.01M
Worldwide:
$38.36M
Starring
Tommy Lee Jones
Actor
Cate Blanchett
Actor
Evan Rachel Wood
Actor
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival 2004
— Golden Bear
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best Young Performer
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best Actress
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
Key opinion
The Missing is widely regarded as a visually striking and emotionally grounded Western that effectively explores complex family dynamics and cultural friction. While its performances are highly praised, opinion is split on whether the narrative's tonal shifts and occasional implausible moments undermine its dramatic weight.
| Acting | Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett deliver powerful, grounded performances that anchor the central father-daughter conflict. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography and production design create a meticulously composed, painterly depiction of the New Mexico frontier. | |
| Culture | The film earns acclaim for its commitment to cultural authenticity, specifically through the integration of the Apache language and nuanced portrayals of indigenous worldviews. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is divisive: some viewers find the immersion in the landscape and slow-burn drama captivating, while others find the narrative flow hindered by unnecessary spectacle and absurd script choices. |