The Woodsman

Great character study and the best acting of his career from Kevin Bacon. A thoughtful movie about a person recently out of prison trying to get back into normal life. The beauty of the movie is that it neither portraying him as a hero, nor as a villain. He is simply a person, who knows how bad he is, and is trying to battle the demons inside him. A somewhat weak story (though not the focus of the movie) brings it down to an 8.

Best acting i've ever seen from Kevin Bacon

you got to be a damn good actor to play a pedophile like kevin bacon does in this movie, it may be an unlikeable subject, but you're not supposed to like it. great movie, even if it's a iffy subject.

Pretty good flick about a guy learning to live after prison. Kevin Bacon does a good job and Kyra Sedgewick has a very nice body.

Bacon manages to get sympathy as a paedophile man struggling with his "disease". A strong, emotional movie.

Shannon as a psychologist... HAHAHAHAHA - someone in the script department must have had a big laugh :P

A terrifying story about a former child molester released from prison. This movie tries to reveal the tortured mind behind the sickness, but mostly succeeds in justifying our fears. His life seems to be painted into a corner as he walks a thin line between good and evil. And sadly, his good deed is even worse than his original transgression. A terrifying look into a sick world. Excellent acting for such a difficult subject.

Fantastic film. Mos Def truly defines himself as an actor. Kevin Bacon gives the best performance of his life which easily should have won him an Oscar.

AMAZING acting by pretty much everyone, totally brave storyline, and a quiet hopeful ending. Not a happy ending, but good enough.

A simple, average movie that just happens to have an incredible performance.

Powerhouse performance from Bacon but that's pretty much it. The plot is predictable and follows a well established path and it kinda felt too rushed and short to deal with such a serious issue. The movie could make a better use of Def's and Shannon's characters.

The handling of the difficult subject matter could have been a bit better, but it also could have been much MUCH worse. This is also a great study on how to build tension; no suspense or horror movie has ever put me on the edge of my seat quite as effectively as some of the scenes in this movie did. Kevin Bacon's acting is also brilliant.

Bacon does fantastically in his presentation of a paedophile fighting his urges. An interesting display of the other side of the story for someone who understands what's right and struggles to overcome their urges without disgrace.

A movie with very touchy subject matter. There were points in the movie when I'd say to myself "Why is that cop giving him such a hard time?" Then I remember what Bacon is portraying. It's a worthwhile viewing. I almost cried at the scene on the bench (and I'm not easily shaken).

An interesting, dramatic character study with a great performance from Kevin Bacon.

Kevin Bacon is incredible in this movie. He is able to express a very large range of emotions even while giving a rather neutral face. He does a lot of acting with his eyes. The character in the movie is trying to keep a neutral face at all times, and it's very genuine when Bacon does this. It's definitely an underrated performance.

A clear-headed look at a subject that is seldom considered rationally. Bacon is terrific, the best I've ever seen him - he underplays this, but you can see the torment below the surface. The filmmaking and editing is first-rate too.

Some of the story beats ring too obvious or false in order to make you empathise with the main character much easier, but that doesn't stop it from being worth a viewing. Considering the subject matter, Kevin Bacon's performance is very effective in how understated it is in getting under his mindset.

A convincing and harrowing performance from Kevin Bacon and all the cast makes this a thought provoking and powerful film about a controversial subject.

This movie hides behind his topic.

Most of the points are awarded to the casting. Kevin Bacon is really amiable here for a sex offender, and the supportings are good too. And I certainly like that it's about a rehabilitating child molester. Unfortunately it still manages to be completely vanilla, conventional and predictable. Everything from his implausibly unaffecting trouble at work to his conveniently understanding romantic interest, from the edgy parole officer to the displays of self-struggles; just lazy and shallow writing.

Kevin Bacon gives one of his best performances as a child-molester just out of prison trying to rehabilitate himself. Bacon is honest about his character's desires, and yet manages to give a sympathetic performance--no mean accomplish. His wife Kyra Sedgwick provides excellent support.

Mostly mediocre and empty, but the scenes on the bench and the conversation with SGT. Lucas are really good and touching.

Kevin Bacon lends his considerable talent to the thought-provoking, uncomfortable and serious heart of a well-cast character study which dares to turn its lens on especially prickly but especially compelling subject matter.

Visto no curso Psicologia e Cinema rendeu um bom debate a respeito de pedofilia e psicologia jurídica.

main character's total development felt ultimately minimal. girlfriend character didn't do too much for me.

Thought provoking with a few great scenes but feels about a half hour too short. Most of the acting is great, Bacon, Shannon, Def, but a couple of the supporting actors don't stack up well beside them. There is some really interesting editing here as well.

Contained and compact drama is a rare lead showcase for Bacon; always excellent as prickly, difficult characters, his moving and empathetic performance provides an admirably clear-eyed perspective on very difficult subject matter, daring to suggest that even (reformed) sex offenders deserve the pursuit of happiness. Feels a little too brief and truncated, especially with characters (Bratt) left dangling, but still interesting and absorbing, with the park bench scene an unforgettable set piece.

Successful debut movie from Nicole Kassell. The story is intriguing, actors are at their best and sounds just right. Bit disappointing is the camera departments influence - movie looks to made in rush and very cheap.

Do you think they sold t-shirts with the movie poster on it during the marketing of this film?

Mos Def steals this movie with his three scenes. Worth seeing for him.

OMG, crap!

makes you think...

Grim stuff. The movie doesn't work 100% (what, he's not a REAL pedophile?) but Bacon's great performance ties it together.

strange movie, not bad though.

Incrível como o filme consegue abordar o assunto pretendido, a pedofilia, sem cair em nenhum estereotipo. Adorei o filme, principalmente os conflitos pessoais do personagem de Kevin Bacon, na melhor atuação do ano e também a melhor de sua carreira. Não só a dificuldade de uma pessoa dessas de volta à sociedade é abordada, como também os próprios conflitos que o personagem tem entre o controle dos seus desejos e o que lhe é certo. Grande filme. Merece ser visto.

Hard. Difficult. Simple. Cold. Perfect for what it is. Not that much of a movie.

iffy directing but a great performance

very disturbing film. points for being intelligent and provocative.

"...an uncompromising, character-driven story told with intelligence, restraint, and emotional clarity." - Jeremiah Kipp

Yeah don't try and make a pedophile sympathetic to me. I don't care how many middle aged factory workers fall in love with him and how "sorry" he is. Fuck him. All 30 points to Mos Def.

Bacon is to be commended for his outstanding portrayal of a man fighting his demons... Highly recommended.

disappointing. a movie and a subjects that makes you wanne know "what happens next". But nothing really happens and the open ending ruins the whole concept that could be awsome!

Very good.

ger; [Der Dämon in mir - The Woodsman]; ein mann, der wegen pädophilie im gefängnis war, will sich wieder in die gesellschaft integrieren - aber seine vergangenheit sorgt dafür dass er gemieden und angefeindet wird.;

Certainly an interesting film, but couldn't help but feel it was turning a child molester into the victim, which I guess he is a victim of his own horrifying nature. Perhaps a bit of a sore subject for most folk. Made me think in a less 'black and white' way about the subject,

Not perfect, but I still have to applaud this film for its brave and thoughtful perspective on such a controversial subject matter and Kevin Bacon's performance.

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