This entry was posted on Saturday, June 16th, 2007 at 9:39 pm and is filed under Thriller/Mystery, V. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: George Sluzier
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Keifer Sutherland, Nancy Travis, Sandra Bullock,
The Vanishing plays like an 80s movie with its hairstyles and fashions. It’s story, based on a Tim Krabbe novel, is rather formulaic, and strains credibility in spots, but does have some very original ideas. There are shocking twists along the way, and the story really builds momentum as it goes on. The direction is subtle, but effective and the acting is good, although I’m not sure if Jeff Bridges was trying for some muddled French accent or a speech impediment. Keifer Sutherland, on the other hand, is nothing less than outstanding.
Jeff Bridges is Barney Cousins, a patient and methodical man, who begins the film by practicing, and preparing, for an abduction. Jeff Harriman (Keifer Sutherland) and Diane Shaver (Sandra Bullock in a small role just before her Speed breakout) are a vacationing young couple, who have the misfortune of visiting a busy highway service station where they cross paths with Cousins. Shaver vanishes and the story jumps ahead three years with Harriman still trying to find her, but instead of his vanished girlfriend, he finds a sunny waitress named Rita (Nancy Travis), who helps him to get past it. Or does he?
The Vanishing is a strong, and rather unusual, mystery film marked by a well-written story and magnificent work by Sutherland. It has a core of dedicated fans who sing its praises even today. It is a little dated, but is still worth catching for fans of the genre or if it shows up on a late night movie.
