TRIBECA 2010: Another Take on THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED

[ Our thanks to Aaron Krasnov for the following review ]

I have been reading the Alice Creed coverage on ScreenAnarchy and wanted to provide a quick counterpoint to the mostly positive looks the site has been giving the film.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed is extremely well presented. The locations are claustrophobic, the compositions informative and foreboding and the plot briskly paced. Opening with one of the best set-up and kidnap montages I have seen, the film quickly proves itself very competent. 

Now the problems:

Alice Creed is a film that is built on the relationships between its characters. Almost all of the tension is built upon interactions between the actors, dependent primarily upon emotional violence and humiliation. 

Without giving anything away the actors do not sell their emotions very well. Gemma Arterton does a good job with fear and helplessness and Eddie Marsan does a great job being confident and bullish but sadly these are not the full range of emotions required of their characters. This is a tricky topic too discuss without spoiling the film so I will leave it be.

Compounding the above issue the audience is never given a character to root for which hurts the ending a great deal.

While not a bad film, it lacks the emotional punch necessary to be a compelling abduct and ransom thriller.

Spoilery discussion:

The most interesting relationship in the film is between Danny (Martin Compston) and a bullet casing.
 

Do you feel this content is inappropriate or infringes upon your rights? Click here to report it, or see our DMCA policy.