A good 7 out of 10 rating.
This film noir was perfect casting for Michael Shannon in the lead role as an ex New York cop turned private investigator named John Rosow who can't seem to get through a day without his flask filled with booze. The film opens with John being woken up from another of his drunken stupors to the sound of his ringing phone and a job offer that starts in two hours if he can get his butt down to New York's central train station. His assignment is to trail a person that he has no information about, not even the suspects' name. As soon as the employer hangs up an attractive woman named Miss Charley suddenly appears at John's apartment door with his train ticket, a picture of the suspect he is expected to trail and a cash advance on his payday. Miss Charley is played to perfection by Amy Ryan who is best known for her earlier role as officer Beatrice BEADIE Russell in the highly rated crime series THE WIRE. John takes the assignment simply for the stack of cash being offered and zooms off to the train station.
As the movie progresses (as so does John's drinking binges) John learns a little bit more each day about the suspect including his name which is Harold Fullmer played by Frank Wood. John also wonders why two FBI agents are also interested in trailing his suspect, and the agents are now trailing John. The film was written and directed by Noah Buschel who created a 1940's film noir style for the film with the opening scene designed in a black and white frame and with his star actor Michael Shannon narrating his story as was the style for the day for the 40's and 50's film noir.
I loved the slower pace there were no big brawls and no over the top car crashes or explosions, just great acting and an intriguing storyline that keeps the audience guessing what is going to happen next. There were also some excellent co-star performances by actors John Ventimiglia, Amy Ryan, Paul Sparks and Margaret Colin. I thought the title The Missing Person was appropriate as the hunted as well as the hunter were in some way both missing persons. The ending was well done and I don't want to give anything away because it may spoil the film for your viewing. My recommendation would be to watch this when you just want to relax and be intrigued by a good storyline and some great performances. I give the film a good 7 out of 10 rating.
This film noir was perfect casting for Michael Shannon in the lead role as an ex New York cop turned private investigator named John Rosow who can't seem to get through a day without his flask filled with booze. The film opens with John being woken up from another of his drunken stupors to the sound of his ringing phone and a job offer that starts in two hours if he can get his butt down to New York's central train station. His assignment is to trail a person that he has no information about, not even the suspects' name. As soon as the employer hangs up an attractive woman named Miss Charley suddenly appears at John's apartment door with his train ticket, a picture of the suspect he is expected to trail and a cash advance on his payday. Miss Charley is played to perfection by Amy Ryan who is best known for her earlier role as officer Beatrice BEADIE Russell in the highly rated crime series THE WIRE. John takes the assignment simply for the stack of cash being offered and zooms off to the train station.
As the movie progresses (as so does John's drinking binges) John learns a little bit more each day about the suspect including his name which is Harold Fullmer played by Frank Wood. John also wonders why two FBI agents are also interested in trailing his suspect, and the agents are now trailing John. The film was written and directed by Noah Buschel who created a 1940's film noir style for the film with the opening scene designed in a black and white frame and with his star actor Michael Shannon narrating his story as was the style for the day for the 40's and 50's film noir.
I loved the slower pace there were no big brawls and no over the top car crashes or explosions, just great acting and an intriguing storyline that keeps the audience guessing what is going to happen next. There were also some excellent co-star performances by actors John Ventimiglia, Amy Ryan, Paul Sparks and Margaret Colin. I thought the title The Missing Person was appropriate as the hunted as well as the hunter were in some way both missing persons. The ending was well done and I don't want to give anything away because it may spoil the film for your viewing. My recommendation would be to watch this when you just want to relax and be intrigued by a good storyline and some great performances. I give the film a good 7 out of 10 rating.