Point Last Seen

I have seen this film several times on Channel 5 in the UK in the last few years, and have found myself stumbling across it again today. It reminded me just how enjoyable (if you can use that word in this instance) the film is to watch. It's moments focussing on the different agonies of Linda Hamilton's character lead to peaks and troughs in the flow of the movie - making it a roller coaster of a film that isn't your typical.

Sure it has it's weaknesses-it is prone to it's corny moments, but I find that this adds to the enjoyment of this particular film. The voice-overs by Linda Hamilton also have the potential to irritate but I find them quite soothing/calming and they definitely add something to understanding her character. Maybe it is the accent!

Boring can most aptly describe this drama of sorts that follows Linda Hamilton as she preaches about why men are bad (her kids are taken from her abusive husband and she "learns" from this).

It's also quite corny, with bad voice-over monologues that are the sort of unnecessary, lazy techniques that Robert McKee preaches about.

Some work and some don't. This doesn't.

Hamilton has admittedly purposely done these made-for-TV movies because she wants to stray away from Hollywood.

She has succeeded - and they suck.

I just watched this movie on LMN today at 6 o'clock in the morning. It was a little distracted from the movie but I was able to follow the movie very well. A 9-year-old girl went missing from a campsite. The flashed back were to show viewer what her ex-husband put her there and why she left him. Rachel is tracking the little girl 3 1/2 tennis shoe footprint. Rachel learned her ex-husband was put in jail but the children aren't with him. Coreen made a promise to find Rachel's children. In the I am glad the little 9-year-old girl was found by Rachel. Rachel children's reunited with her after her and Frank return home from the search for the 9-year-old girl. Coreen kept her promise.

Linda Hamilton is convincing as a search and rescue tracker searching the desert for a lost little girl. While the dialogue in many instances of the film left something to be desired, Hamilton's voice-over work when revealing the character's inner feelings and motivation was exceptional. In a particularly well-acted scene near the end of the film, Hamilton brings a heartfelt realism and poignancy that every mother can understand.

Kevin Kilner brilliantly played the violent ex-husband and kidnapping father that you love to hate. Kilner is usually a very pleasant presence on screen, which is what makes this evil performance so impressive.

Way off-the-mark were the flashbacks scenes meant to show the characters early in their marriage. While the premise was a good one, in order to help viewers understand the relationship and its origins, Hamilton's character was played by a young actress who looked nothing like Hamilton while Kilner remained in his character's shoes, looking not the least bit younger.

I'm just getting my breath back after holding it for too long watching this movie! Certainly one of the best I've ever seen, even for a made-for-tv film.

The parallels between 'life' and tracking work well, the acting was top drawer, the scenery magnificent. I can only think the negative reviews here are from insensitive clods, so if you're an insensitive clod don't bother.

The pacing is deliberately 'andante' to match the subject. And the dual ending keeps the tension right to the end. Thought provoking. I've just watched it after finding it on YouTube. Wherever you find it, well worth 90 minutes. Make quite a contrast to some of the dire cr-p produced these days.