The Woodsman

Amazon.com

Kevin Bacon gives one of the best, most nuanced performances of his career in The Woodsman, a daring and thought-provoking drama he co-produced with his wife, Kyra Sedgwick. In portraying a convicted pedophile named Walter, recently released from prison and struggling to rebuild his life, Bacon and writer-director Nicole Kassell (making her feature-film debut) do a remarkable job of exploring all facets of this troubling yet very human character, from his continuing criminal impulses to the despair he feels over having to conceal his horrible past. Sedgwick costars as the one woman who appears willing to accept Walter, secrets and all, and while The Woodsman takes a few regrettable shortcuts in illustrating Walter's quest for the good man he can be, the film deserves to be seen and discussed as a provocative yet admirably humane study of an individual whom society may too quickly label a "monster." The film allows for different interpretations, and that complexity--along with Bacon's performance--makes it worthy of a wide and hopefully understanding audience. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Hard to watch but beautifully made.......2007-09-17

Some subjects are so taboo that even if done in an artful way it is hard for us to swallow or be entertained by. We have run into subjects like these in films about things such as slavery, the holocaust, films about rape and in recent year's films about 9-11. Most of these subjects have a percentage of the public turned off and the other percentage able to disconnect, for whatever reason, and able to view the film in a subjective manner. The Woodsman deals with the toughest subject matter of any film I've seen, they make the main character in the film a child molester and have us try to feel sorry for him. This film right off the bat had me saying to myself that this was an impossible task.

I was half right, I didn't feel sorry for Walter played wonderfully by Kevin Bacon, at times I understood why everyone hated him. What I also learned was the other side of his life. Him wanting to be normal and constant wondering if he would ever be able to find peace within himself. This film was beautifully directed by new comer Nicole Kassell who directed this story with kid gloves and certainly a scene of tastefulness and discipline needed for such a risky script.

You will not cheer for the Kevin Bacon's character and you probably won't feel sorry for him, but you'll try to understand how hard his life is and wish he could do something to change it. I can't recommend this film to everyone, I know as a parent it was hard for me to watch and think that there are people like this out there. If you do watch this know that it's a good movie with great acting and that the director tip toes around this taboo without crossing over into distastefulness for the sake of "art". It's a shame that these performances will not be seen by many because I think this film is a good one, a very good one. The only thing that it didn't change is my feeling for people like this, I don't want them around me or my children but I do respect the ones that acknowledge they have a problem and seek help to correct it.

Taut, gritty adaptation is a small-budget winner.......2007-08-24

Writer/Director Nicole Kassell has fashioned and brought to life a taut, gritty adaptation of Steven Fechter's play. There's great acting in this small-budget winner. Kevin Bacon turns in one of his best performances here. It's fascinating to watch him act with real-life spouse Kyra Sedgwick - Sedgwick's is a juicy blue-collar role that she plays to the hilt...deliciously. Also good in a smaller role is the always underrated Benjamin Bratt. This guy brings likability and a sense of ease to whatever he does. There's a pivotal moment in the film where Bratt's character (he's the brother-in-law to Bacon's deeply troubled character) has to react and break from his till-then friendly interactions with Bacon. It's one of the film's pivotal scenes. Great stuff from Ben Bratt.

It was also neat to see Carlos Leon in a small but important role. Hmmm, I thought while seeing the credits: the Carlos Leon that is Daddy to a certain Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon? Yes, that one.

Pointless.......2007-04-05

I found this movie pointless, devoid of story, dull and sick. I couldn't feel for the poor sick, child molesting man. I couldn't like the woman for caring about him. And when the molester wanted the little girl to sit on his lap, I wanted to jump into the film. Please avoid this film. There is much better in the sea of movieland than this stinker.

The movie attempts to build sympathy for a child molester. One scene the molester is trying to entice a child, and the next the molester beats up another molester.

Regarding Kevin bacon's acting performance - the entire movie he remains quiet, looking depressed. That's it. Very few lines.

This film left me sick to my stomach and bored to tears.

Kevin Bacon is such a good actor.......2007-03-13

This film really deserved better press and exposure than it got.
Kevin Bacon is just sensational in this film.

I really wish that all the deleted scenes would have been left in,I think
they tied up the film in more of a complete film.

It really is one of the top acting jobs of the season,yet was virtually
ignored. The soundtrack was very,very good also.
I don't think that Mos Def is an actor..how on earth does he get film roles??

Kevin and his wife were just so good and believable,and really looked good together in this film.
The close up filming of this film was so good in studying Kevin's face,the folks that made this film deserve alot of credit on that.

the past isn't over.......2007-01-25

Not until the final sentence or two of this film does The Woodsman reach anything like dramatic resolution, and even then it is a resolution of the sort befitting the deep complexity and ambiguity of its subject matter. The film begins when Walter is released from serving 12 years in prison for his conviction as a sex offender, and he tries to make a new life for himself. He takes an apartment across the street from an elementary school (yes, a bad choice), and rides the bus to his job at a lumber yard. Except for his therapist, all those outside of and around Walter ostracize him as a monster and a freak. His sister refuses to talk to him or allow him to see his niece, a detective monitors his every move, and when his work colleagues discover his past they "out" him in a most bizarre way. Within himself another war rages. Neither Walter nor the viewer really knows to what extent he has moved beyond his past and is, therefore, safe. Involuntary hallucinations plague him, and poor choices born of habit implicate him. Three important sub-plots, all revolving around child molestation, contribute to Walter's unfolding narrative. Watching this film I was reminded of Faulkner's unnerving observation that "the past isn't gone; it isn't even past." Still, and not to reveal too much, this incredibly tense and powerful film ends on a hopeful note that is nevertheless sobering for all of us who seek redemption this side of eternity.

Average customer rating:

So you want to be a Woodsman?
Starring: Brown Paper Company
Director: Northeast Historic Film
Manufacturer: Northeast Historic Film
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0006UN7K4
Release Date: 1996-04-08

DVD:

DVD

DVD