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So as you know, I stopped writing lengthy reviews on this site this year, keeping the blog as more of a film diary of sorts.  Lo and behold,...

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Movie Review - Without a Trace

Without a Trace (1983)
Starring Kate Nelligan, Judd Hirsch, Danny Corkill, and Stockard Channing 
Directed by Stanley R. Jaffe
***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Well, this is a Lifetime movie-of-the-week flick if I've ever seen one.  Granted, there wasn't Lifetime in 1983, but Without a Trace could have easily been right at home on either ABC or CBS in one of their Sunday night movie showcases.  While I don't quite get how this deserved a theatrical release, it's certainly a solid film focusing on a mother's (Kate Nelligan) anguish after her six year-old son (Danny Corkill) vanishes one day on his walk to school.  With the help of a New York City police detective (Judd Hirsch), the mom never gives up hope that her son will return home to her safe and sound despite the fact that those around her (including her best friend played by Stockard Channing) tell her that she needs to move on with her life after over three months of unsubstantiated leads.

The flick is certainly helped by two very good performances in Kate Nelligan and Judd Hirsch.  Nelligan is front and center for nearly the whole flick and the film is a nice study of a grieving mother who refuses to give up hope when others around her have already done so.  The film also nicely gives a few fine moments to Hirsch whose detective grows increasingly disappointed with himself for being unable to find the missing child.

In the end, the film is good, but it's generic.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you simply need to know what you're getting before you watch it.  It's got all the makings of a solid television film that received a theatrical release because of two decent performances.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

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