it seriously lacks action, not one of Kevin bacon's best films, if they made it better action it would really be an excellent film. would I recommend it. no I wouldn't,purely becos of its lacking of excitement... but again, the story line was far better then the actual film was.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Good quality item
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I was hesitant to watch this movie. Especially given the seemingly nonstop litany of violent crimes committed by pedophiles in the past couple of years, one doesn't naturally gravitate toward a movie based upon a pedophile's attempt to reenter society. Most of us don't want to have and most likely cannot possibly have the least bit of sympathy for any child molester, but this issue is more complex than I for one would like it to be - and The Woodsman gives evidence to this fact. This is a movie people need to watch - it doesn't offer any real solutions, but it is extremely thought-provoking and can help us try to better understand the depths of what has become an epidemic preying on our children - and you can't solve a problem without understanding it first. It is important to note that the main character here is not a level-three sex offender; he's not a monster, just a man with a very severe problem - one that he is trying to overcome. Walter (Kevin Bacon) has just been released from prison, having served twelve years for molesting young girls. We are never told exactly what his crimes involved, although he says he never hurt any of his victims. He was fortunate to find a job at a lumber mill and a place to live (although, most troublingly, his apartment is across the street from an elementary school). He sees a therapist every week and receives regular visits from a police detective, both of which are necessary because, no matter how much he wants to be normal, he still has terrible urges to fall back into his old ways. Society doesn't make it easy for him, as those who learn of his past shun him or threaten him with violence - everyone except Vicki (Kyra Sedgwick), who eventually comes to accept him as he is. Everyone else treats him like a monster - and, when his emotional crisis hits its crescendo, he is driven to the brink of becoming exactly the kind of monster everyone already thinks he is. There's no solution to this; society has to know about these people living amongst them, yet that widespread knowledge represents a brick wall in the subject's road to reform. Again, I'm talking about understanding, not sympathy, here. For any pedophile truly wanting to escape his urges and become normal, society as a whole offers an almost insurmountable challenge - that's just a fact. Kevin Bacon does an incredible job here - as does young Hannah Pilkes, whose acting in a pivotal scene is on par with Bacon's own. Walter's problems are internalized for the most part, yet so much of what he goes through inside his own head communicates itself to the viewer through Bacon's nuanced performance. Walter does want to be normal, but it is incredibly difficult for him to get to that point when he is basically left completely on his own. His moments of weakness lead to some emotionally disturbing scenes (nothing graphic, of course - not even close); if you're not uncomfortable watching this movie, I would hope our paths never cross. Don't avoid the film just because it makes you uncomfortable, though. It's really a powerful story that culminates in an excellent ending - I won't describe it at all, but I must say it is really a fitting conclusion that builds upon the main character's struggles throughout the film.Read full review
Due to the subject matter this was always going to be a controversial film. Kevin Bacon stars as a child sex offender who released from jail tries to build a new life and resist going back to his old ways. Due to the subject matter the film was tough in places but showed a different side to the character and how much he wanted to change and be a normal person. Kevin Bacon is on excellent form in the lead role. The style of the film was very artistic and is worth a watch but its not going to appeal to everyone.
This is a marvellous film, I bought the film because I have never seen Kevin Bacon in anything bad and this film is no exception even though the subject matter is rather contravesial and the film cuts very close to the bone all the way through. The story centres on a peadophile returning to society upon his release from a long prison term in prison and as the story unfolds the characters develop the situation from every possible angle so... if you have absolutely no time for formula films, pop star/ sex symbol vehicles or safe storylines, this is one for you. I loved it. Thought provoking.
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best-selling in DVDs & Blu-rays
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-rays