This Hated Western Is a Secret Masterpiece Everyone’s Been Sleeping On
If you liked The Searchers with John Wayne, you'll love this unreasonably overhated gem starring Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett.
To be successful and loved by the audience, westerns have to get a lot of things right. A good western needs a great plot, stunning scenery, and excellent acting, but an exceptional one needs something more. It needs a heart.
That's exactly what makes it so frustrating when a gem like The Missing (2003) doesn't get the recognition it deserves. This is the kind of western capable of pulling you in from the first minutes and not letting go until the very end.
Critics hated it, audiences hated it even more. But I'm here to tell you that this movie deserves a redemption.
Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones’ Killer Performance Makes The Missing So Great
Samuel Jones (Tommy Lee Jones) has abandoned his family years ago. Now he's back and wants to make things right. His daughter Maggie Gilkeson (Cate Blanchett) wants nothing to do with him. But when her daughter is kidnapped, she has no choice but to accept her father's help.
Through the harsh world of 1885 New Mexico Territory, father and daughter will undergo the greatest transformation of their lives yet.
The story is believable and extremely heartbreaking. The cast is great, but Blanchett and Jones steal the show. As Redditor ClaudiaWoodstockfan wrote:
“It is one of the better Ron Howard movies. Just watching Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones is a pleasure.”
And it is a pleasure indeed. These two immerse us even deeper into an already fascinating story. Their complicated father-daughter relationship feels very real. You can actually see and most importantly, feel the years of hurt and abandonment.
The Missing Got Great Representation & Is a Must-Watch for All Fans of Westerns
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What makes this film truly special is its attention to detail and respect for authenticity. As SagePup21 on Reddit noticed:
“I can't explain my love for this movie. The brutality of it, such high stakes, strong family ties, the redemption arc of the father, ACTUAL heckin Native Americans portraying Native Americans, and accurately spoken APACHE.”
That last point cannot be overstated. Today, movies still often miss the mark on representation. The Missing got it right nearly two decades ago.
Where Can You Stream The Missing for Free?
It's become something of a comfort watch for me, despite (or perhaps because of) its intensity. There's something deeply satisfying about watching a story that respects its audience enough to be both brutal and beautiful.
The Missing doesn't miss a beat and stays with you long after it is finished. You can see it for yourself completely for free on Hoopla right now. It's time we gave this powerful story the second chance it deserves.
