Missing In America Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
It's never too late to come home.
The veteran Vietnam lieutenant Jake Neeley lives alone in a cabin in the woods and his only contact with the civilization is through the owner of a small store, Kate, who periodically supplies his provisions. The solitary Jake helps other lonely veterans that live in the forest giving them part of his supplies and receiving wood in return. When Jake is visited by the former private of his platoon Henry R. Hocknell, who has lung cancer, Henry asks him to raise his Vietnamese daughter Lenny Hocknell. The widow Henry has no family and he will be subjected to a severe treatment of cancer. The reluctant Jake says no, but Henry leaves his daughter and vanishes. Along his contact with the young girl, Jake improves his behavior until a tragedy happens.
| Danny Glover | Jake Neeley |
| Ron Perlman | Red |
| Linda Hamilton | Kate |
| Zoe Weizenbaum | Lenny Hocknell |
| David Strathairn | Henry R. Hocknell Jr. |
| Timothy Webber | Mitchell |
| Gabrielle Rose | Cyd |
| Frank C. Turner | Dinky |
| Jesse Moss | Robert W. Gardner |
| Ty Olsson | Soldier |
| Colin Lawrence | Young Jake |
| Isen Robbins | Scary Woodcutter |
| Gabrielle Savage Dockterman |
6.40 out of 10 (699 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Terrible Movie
posted on 03 Jul 2009The ending where the little girl died was terrible. The movie builds you up to really like the characters, then lets you down by killing one of the main players. I spent $29 for the DVD and promptly threw it in the garbage can,whereas the writers and producers should have done this in the first place. What really bothers me is when the crazy-man tries to kill the little girl, then when she is saved by Jake, she decides to go for a walk just where this crazy man lives. When she trips the wire that would have killed her, crazy-man saves her life, which is good; you feel good that she was saved, then 2 minutes later she runs into another trap that promptly kills her. Why what is the point of the whole movie?
Great Movie
posted on 03 Jun 2009I saw this movie and I couldn't believe how much I cried. This is such an emotional movie. Unbelievable. I usually don't cry but this movie had me next to sobbing. Great for a movie-goer or the whole family. I honestly think that anyone with any form of love in their heart should see this movie. I just saw this movie tonight actually. 8/4/07. I had tears streaming down my face. But you don't want to hear about how much I cried.There is a problem, though. What the screenwriters did to the little girl named Lenny is cruel, in my head anyway. It added so much to the drama. Danny Glover does an absolutely wonderful job. The film deserves a much higher score than it was given. The actress playing Lenny did a great job too. The bottom line is this: One of the best movies I have ever seen.Thanks for listening.
A Sad Story About Losses and Consequences of a War, 07 January 2007, revised:
posted on 14 May 2009The veteran Vietnam lieutenant Jake Neeley (Danny Glover) lives alone in a cabin in the woods and his only contact with the civilization is through the owner of a small store, Kate (Linda Hamilton), who periodically supplies his provisions. The solitary Jake helps other lonely veterans that live in the forest giving them part of his supplies and receiving wood in return. When Jake is visited by the former private of his platoon Henry R. Hocknell (David Strathairn), who has lung cancer, Henry asks him to raise his Vietnamese daughter Lenny Hocknell (Zoë Weizenbaum). The widow Henry has no family and he will be subjected to a severe treatment of cancer. The reluctant Jake says no, but Henry leaves his daughter and vanishes. Along his contact with the young girl, Jake improves his behavior until a tragedy happens."Missing in America" is a sad story about losses and consequences of a war in the life of the survivors. Danny Glover and the débutant Zoë Weizenbaum have great performances in this tragic film. It is very impressive also the memorial wall in Washington shown in the end of the film, with thousands of names of soldiers that died in Vietnam. Considering that this percentage is very small when comparing with the deaths of Vietnamese (see Obs.), and recalling the deaths of Americans and Iraqi in the recent invasion, I guess what would be necessary to make people live in peace in the world and stop killing each other. Each one of these names has a family that misses the loss of the beloved relative. This movie also shows that the aftermath of a war leaves deep scars even in the survivors, losers or winners. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "Cicatrizes da Guerra" ("Scars of the War")Obs: 1) "The Vietnam War cost the United States 58000 lives." (http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/vietnam/index.cfm).2) "Documents declassified by the Vietnamese government in 1995, revealed that 5.1 million people, died during the Hanoi's conflict with the United States. Four million civilians died in both the North and South. Total military casualties were put at 1.1 million and 600,000 wounded. Hanoi concealed the figures during the war to avoid demoralizing the population." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War).
Touching, excellent film!
posted on 20 Apr 2009I recently saw this film at the Monaco International Film Festival and I was overwhelmed. (the film won Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Emerging Actress at the festival.) It earned all of the awards. What an excellent film! The acting is superb. The reaction at the film festival was incredible. Gabrielle Savage Dockterman is a brilliant director. Danny Glover's performance was touching and genuine. Linda Hamilton, David Strathairn and Zoe Weizenbaum were truly excellent. This would be excellent as a big studio film, and as an independent film it is just as impressive.I am impressed that this film took a real stand on violence and collateral damage of war. Everyone should see this film!
Missing in America
posted on 19 Mar 2009The title, Missing in America, was congruent with the troubled veterans disappearing to cope with their war images. I loved Danny Glover. He did an excellent job playing a Vietnam veteran coping with his war images and struggles to reconnect emotionally to people. The young Vietnamese's girl, Zoe Weizenbaum,did a fine job of acting. I fell in love with her. She had a lovely smile. I enjoyed hearing her talk. She brought joy back to Jake's life and was pulling him out of his withdrawal lifestyle to the point he was being nice to people. Most people can relate to the content of this movie because it depicts what a lot of people are dealing with in their lives. It is a message of hope that things can get better and how people can help each other to reconnect to life and people. This movie got to my fears and anxieties. The location was beautiful. I enjoyed some of Jakes' quotes.
Best movie I've seen all year
posted on 13 Mar 2009This is a truly wonderful movie. It surprised the hell out of me. I was all prepared to be bored out of my skull having to sit through one of those "war is bad for you" Hollywood movies. Instead the time flew by and I found myself deeply touched.Danny Glover plays a Vietnam war veteran hiding away from the world whose life, and the lives of those around him, gets transformed by a young Vietnamese girl (Zoe Weizenbaum) who is left with him by an old army buddy. Linda Hamilton plays a store keeper who is their point of contact with the "real" world. Sounds a bit wishy-washy but believe me its not. There is some kind of comfortable chemistry between Glover, Weizenbaum, and Hamilton that draws you in and makes you really care. Linda Hamilton says more with just the expressions on her face than any number of words. I think of all the movies I have seen Glover and Linda Hamlton perform in this is the only one that proves them as truly great. As for Weizenbaum, well I don't know if someone that young can win an Oscar, but I hope so. The rest of the supporting cast were spot on too.Having said all that, the movie as a whole is flawed by old-fashioned poorly constructed flash-backs and some useless scenes in the middle that could be cut and more scenes added at the end to add more impact. I have the feeling that if a surgeon like Kieslowski made this movie it would end up as a classic. Flawed and yet I gave it 10/10.In closing my advice is to go see it and tell your friends about it so hopefully it will get distributed more widely.
Fatally Flawed Movie
posted on 15 Feb 2009First of all I can't believe people have given glowing reviews of this movie. Some say it's the best movie they have ever seen. All I can say to this is that they don't' get out much! A movie must be made by certain rules for example:1.) It must be believable: (This is probably the most important rule for a serious drama such as this - you don't need to keep this rule for a comedy). This movie is far from believable the reasons for this I will reveal later.2.) Character development: In this movie the characters are quite well developed for a bad film such as this and is probably only the second good element to the film.3.)Acting : The acting was actually good, especially from the amazing Danny Glover. He could read the phone book and make it sound interesting. Also from the underrated Linda Hamilton.4.) Pace: The movie starts well enough but does not change pace or build any tension of any kind. Leading you to believe that it's actually a feel good movie not a sad pathetic effort such as this.5.)Structure: Good beginning poor middle terrible ending. The structure is one of the worst elements to this movie. It devotes too much time to the wrong story elements and leaves nothing for a proper rounded and satisfying film. This movie could be used as an example how NOT to make a film.6.)Basic Story for script: The idea of Vietnam veterans hiding away in a wilderness is probably true. Nursing their wounds etc.. but the way that the story is written, there is no hope in the lives of the people, or any possibility of a well rounded story to develop. Consequently the script is just awful. IE. a.) Her seeing Danny Glover naked but no later development of this element to the story. then... b.) Embarrassing double entendre in store; With Danny Glover offering Linda Hamilton money for wine he'd taken earlier, asking her "how much will it cost, I'm not sure of the price anymore" and her thinking it was for sex, just because she's seen him naked. Which he didn't know about BTW. They've obviously known each other for years, so this story element is ridiculous. It's like they just met. c.) The little girl dying at the end of the movie is the silliest ending I think I've ever seen in a film. absolutely no point to this at all (except to make Danny Glover's character even more depressed than he already was.) and to remove any doubt that this was a "feel good movie". d.) No explanation of what happened to Ron Perlmans character after he was wounded. Strange this, has he was supposed to be one of the main stars of the film. The flaws in the story go on and on but IMDb doesn't allow more than a 1000 words so I'll stop there for now pointing out the bad story elements.The story should have Danny Glover getting together with Linda Hamilton. Possible romance etc.. even though they've known each other for a long time, but as the writer has disregarded all the other rules, a bit of proper entertainment wouldn't have gone amiss. The little girl who strangely dies, should have actually coaxed Ron Perlmans character out of his shell and lead him back to an ordinary existence. That seemed to be the way the story was going until everything went pear shaped. As if the writer lost the will to live or something. It would also have been nice to see Linda Hamilton share some scenes with Ron Perlman for obvious reasons to anybody who is a TV fan. (That's why I bought the DVD in the first place, not to be assaulted with this garbage movie.)In conclusion this movie is a VERY flawed exercise and seems like it was made and written by students instead of experienced pro's. Other reviewers have said this movie is gut wrenching . Hardly; it is so badly made that is just comes across as completely pointless. I could go on but this film doesn't deserve the attention. I give it 2 out of 10 only because of the good acting.
An excellent film
posted on 27 Nov 2008I was invited to a screening in New York City recently and thoroughly enjoyed this film. Mr. Glover's and Zoe Weizenbaum's performances were superb. The locations in the movie were some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen and the photography and lighting was breathtaking. The story is well-paced and and the supporting characters were interesting and well acted. Mr. Perlman artfully conveys much emotion through his character without speaking a word. This movie really is a powerful, and sometimes gut-wrenching, examination of the lasting effects of the Vietnam conflict on those who experienced the war.
Well conceived, compelling and heart rending film
posted on 15 Nov 2008I saw this film at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Falmouth MA. It is a first rate exploration of the long lasting damage from the Viet Nam war. This is the story of a Viet Nam vet living in the NW woods, isolated, alone and desirous of remaining so. One of the men from his troop shows up 30 years later, depositing his half-Vietnamese child and disrupting the vet's carefully orchestrated remove from the world. The child becomes, as expected, the catalyst for healing and renewal. So much for the conventional plot. What is unconventional is the depth of emotion, as well as honesty of the writing and the performances. This is a completely absorbing film that seduces and transfixes the audience with its strong but gentle sentiments. This should get a first run in theaters, and perhaps some nominations for writing, acting and cinematography. Danny Glover is perfect; Zoe Weizenbaum is a young woman to watch. An unforgettable film. Its images and story stay with you.
Pretty far from being a good movie
posted on 24 Oct 2008Given the cast and the type of story being told, I had high hopes for this movie. Within about 10 minutes, however, I was beginning to realise I'd been sold a pup. The main fault lies with the writing. The characters just aren't developed well enough to be even remotely believable, and what psychology they have is all wrong. Danny Glover's character, for instance, is a Vietnam vet who's taken himself off to the backwoods and turned his back on society. The only real face-to-face contact he has with another human comes once a month at the grocery store - and that's hardly a memorable or happy communion. But then, within a few short scenes, he's reconciled to this difficult child of an army pal he hasn't seen for decades. The child has lost her father - the emotional centre of her life at that point - but doesn't seem to suffer much in the way of grief (unless you call a few nights of tears grief). There was a great movie to be made here. Unfortunately, due to the bad writing, that movie didn't materialise. I disagree with critics who say it was badly acted. The actors did their level best with the script they were given. You can only be as good as the material you have to work with.
Good intentions, bad melodrama
posted on 24 Sep 2008While Missing in America is brimming with "good intentions", i.e. the tale of wounded Vietnam vets, it suffers from horrible and pedestrian script and heavy handed directing. Sure, Danny Glover is wonderful, and David Strathairn stellar in the small appearance, and Zoe Weizenbaum engaging, and Lind Hamilton still good .. but the story is so "hokey" that in many instances we are overcome by uncontrollable guffaws...Too bad, because it could have been an endearing story, but it's amateur city...the worst of the lot is when - out of nowhere - Linda Hamilton shows up at Donny Glover's doorstep and happens to see him take a "sponge bath" and then she is aroused by his manhood -- and then Glover shows up at her general store and launches a tirade of double-entendre about - mistakenly - action... that are, frankly embarrassing...The writers should have been retired to greener pastures...Ergo -- 3 at best...
Loved it!
posted on 31 Aug 2008My whole family loved this movie! I can't fathom why a movie of this caliber is not in theaters drawing record crowds. It was so much better than most of the movies that Hollywood makes such a big deal over these days. My 16 year old daughter didn't quite understand why the title of the film was "Missing In America" but after I explained the plight of the psychologically scarred veterans in this country, she agreed that it was the perfect title. I'm so glad that all the big name movies at my local Blockbuster were rented so that I had to look more closely for a movie to watch. It just goes to show, sometimes it is worth your while to look past all the commercial movies at the video store and try the unfamiliar.
Outstanding efforts by all involved!
posted on 13 Apr 2008I watched Missing In America at the screening in Bozeman, Montana. What a terrific movie! Hats off to everyone - especially Gabrielle Savage Dockterman! What an explosive piece for a first time try! And little Zoe Weizenbaum, for her first time acting in front of a camera. Obviously, these two are destined for great things.I especially appreciate the sensitivity used by everyone involved in producing this film. It is a subject matter that has been discussed and portrayed readily, but never with so much passion, understanding, realism and class. The lack of heavy profanity and sex was so refreshing. Perhaps other producers will take note that exceptional films can be absent of smut. This is a must see for everyone, especially families! The subject matter is very timely with our involvement in Iraq. America deserves to have this film in the theaters to help us all understand the effects of ill-fought, misunderstood wars and to give us faith that even the hard-core victims of war can be reformed if they are given the right chance.Attention to detail in this film was very impressive. All in all, I can't say enough good about it. Let's get it to the movie theaters!!!
Great film!
posted on 03 Apr 2008Very moving film! My wife cried at the sad death scene, but the part that really moved me was the ending scene at the Wall. I'm five years older than she is, and grew up in the Vietnam era. I think that is why different parts of the film affected us differently. I knew people who are listed on the wall, and have been to it a few times. I am always awed by the sight of it, even more so than visiting the WTC site.I think the writing was very poignant, and it had to be written by someone who experienced it.I'd recommend it to anyone from ages 35 and up, others just won't understand.
Sugary Sweetness
posted on 26 Mar 2008Considering the often harsh votes on movies here on IMDb, I was looking forward to this unknown movie scoring a 6.6. After watching it, though, it's completely beyond me how this movie ever got that rating. It lacks pretty much any kind of involving story-arc, seemingly patching a series of rather unrelated events together. Despite the seasoned cast, acting is wooden and dialog contrived. The girl in the lead role is just too old to get away with her part, though the layers of make-up probably didn't help her any.As mentioned, the story lacks real surprises. Despite dealing with the serious subject of Vietnam veterans, it is just too sweet to be credible. This movie could go straight to Hallmark Channel and never be noticed.
The war at home
posted on 22 Mar 2008The Viet Nam war is still vivid in most of the men that were involved in that conflict. Some of them were scarred for life, to the point they don't want anything to do with the rest of the society, as it's the case with the people one sees in this film. Jake, a black man living in a small piece of land in what appears to be the Pacific Northwest, keeps to himself. Whenever he needs provisions he goes to Kate's store. Jake and Kate keep their distance. When Henry, a former soldier who was in Viet Nam with Jake, arrives at the small farm, he brings his little girl, Lenny. This man, we learn, is dying of cancer and wants Jake to keep the girl with him. Lenny, clashes with Jake from the start. She wants her dad, and it's clear that Jake is not that person. Gradually they come to respect one another. Lenny, who is a friendly girl, wants Jake to be more neighborly. When they have a picnic, some of the other veterans living nearby, come to share some of the food and conversation. Red, a man that suffered a wound to his face, is a strange individual who, when he notices Lenny is half Vietnamese, spits in her face.Gabrielle Savage Dockterman, the director, keeps things moving in this sad tale about people that can't communicate even though they have a great deal of pain in common. Danny Glover makes a good Jake. Linda Hamilton appears as the store owner Kate, who takes an interest in Jake. Ron Perlman is seen as Red, the man still fighting a war in his own turf. Zoe Wizenbaun makes a sweet Lenny and David Strathairn shows only for a couple of pivotal scenes.
A powerful film about Vietnam veterans
posted on 31 Dec 2007I had the privilege of seeing this film at the Seattle International Film Festival on Memorial Day and I couldn't have selected more suitable film for the occasion.In Missing in America, Jake (Danny Glover) is surprised by a fellow ex-Vietnam war vet (David Strathairn) who unexpectedly leaves his half-Vietnamese little girl with Jake to care for. The film follows the emotionally wounded vet as he grows attached to the little girl, played superbly by Zoe Weizenbaun, who will be in the upcoming Memoirs of a Geisha.Danny Glover's Jake is familiar territory for the actor as Jake is an independent survivor who lives alone in a shack in the woods and is more than a little disagreeable. He drives into to town periodically to buy supplies from Kate (Linda Hamilton) with money made from selling chopped wood. Jake doesn't immediately take to the little girl, Lenny, that is left in his care, but as Jake's character warms up to his new housemate, this film could have become a sweet film about a wounded man who is changed forever by the child in his life, but Missing in America doesn't travel down that path. Instead, it used the arrival of a half-Vietnamese child as a catalyst that allows for the exploration into the lives of the mysterious war veterans that live solitary lives in the woods, not able to forget the horrors they experienced in Vietnam. In Lenny's explorations into the woods, she meets their neighbors, some, like Red (Ron Perlman), are still living as if they are in a war zone and see Lenny as a painful reminder of a war that while being 40 years in the past, still impacts their lives on a daily basis.Missing in America is a very amazing first feature for director Gabrielle Savage Dockterman. This was a very courageous and sometimes gut wrenching film that feels like a very authentic snapshot of life 40 years after the Vietnam war for some veterans.
Oh, my stars, this was poignant
posted on 07 Dec 2007I haven't even sniffled at a movie in an awfully long time, but I bawled during Missing in America. twice I'm looking forward to checking with my comrades at my American Legion post. Maybe we ought to get together for a showing. Indeed, I'm not a combat vet, but am a disabled vet of the navy. Having spent a lot of time, dating back to the early 80s, in VA hospitals, I can't state that I completely understand what these men have gone through in the ensuing decades, but I've probably seen it a lot more closely than many middle-aged women. The movie BEAUTIFULLY portrayed the variety of modes of emotional survival that might evolve among America's proud service men and women of the Viet Nam war.
Reactions and responses of our military shown in this film.
posted on 01 Dec 2007I would like to find out if my husband, who is also a Vietnam vet, is related to Jake Neeley. His name is James Neeley, born in 1943.The movie was superb. It was heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time. I would be totally surprised if this film did not win some kind of award. The story line was superb and the actors really did a great job of making the movie so real!! Many people have not experienced or even seen this side of life.My husband has had similar experiences as a result of the Vietnam war, having three tours there in the U. S. Navy. He was amphibious, sea and land. The things these soldiers had to go through were just unbelievable. This film portrays some of the mental and emotional reactions and responses of the military men and women to the heart-wrenching problems they experienced in the war. This also exhibits PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).Many of these situations still exist in our military men and women. They've paid a great price for the freedom that we experience today. No matter how imperfect America is, it's still the greatest nation on earth.Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this spectacular film.
How to turn an excellent drama in cheesy crap
posted on 31 Jul 2009Missing in America should be compared with European drama; I am thinking of titles like La Dentelliere and Una Giornata Particolara. The similarities are striking, though the stories are very different. Movies like these focus on character, relations and yes, they manipulate the spectator. There is nothing wrong with that.The secret is in the dosing. Alas the end of Missing in America is an overdose. Like others have noted, the death of Lennie was not necessary. The two subsequent scenes, especially Katie's instant healing, were absolutely not trustworthy. As a result the scene at the memorial wall s***s.Docketerman is a talented director, no doubt about it. She has the talent to get the best from her actors. Every role, not matter how small, looked like or was (essentially the same) like played by a top actor. The way she used the flashback scene reminded me of For a few dollars more; the effect was the same, though in a completely different setting. Also Docketerman made a very good use of the beautiful landscape - again the influence of Leone? She succeeded in giving the veterans a credible background. I am sorry for okieindian, but the hundreds of hurt veterans are more interesting for a drama than the millions of normal ones. These don't need comrades like Jake. It is nonsense to state, that this story is an insult; it is not about them. Neither is Missing in America a political movie like that Oliver Stone/Tom Cruise one; it is a drama of individuals.I strongly recommend Docketerman to study the titles above; another suggestion is the melodrama part of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Blondie comforting the soldier). She also must learn, that in such situations absolute silence works better than wining hobo music. It is a strong tendency in American movies to "support" emotional scenes with pseudo-emotional music. The result is always predictability and distraction. I sincerely hope that she, like all the greats, analyzes the flaws of Missing in America.It is a pity, that Docketerman spoiled a potential masterpiece. She has a great future though.