Film Review: The Woodsman

Kevin Bacon has been in many films in his career, so much so he single-handedly inspired a bunch of college students to develop a web-based search engine (the Oracle of Bacon). It works on the basis that you can find only a finite number of hops between Bacon and the rest of the movie industry, because of his proliferation of roles. Of the various characters he has played, they haven't always been upstanding WASP models - nothing quite compares to this very brave move, however.

In the Woodsman, Bacon plays Walter, a paedophile who has just been released from prison after serving 12 years for interfering with young girls. We never quite learn exactly what Walter was imprisoned for, but he himself says "it's not what you think, nobody was hurt". He returns to his home town, where he takes up a job in a lumber yard, offered to him by a friend of his father's. During that time he keeps his head down, and does his job, while wresting with the fact that his secret will inevitably get found out, and more importantly, fighting with his innermost desires, which are of course for young children.

Despite this obviously distasteful aspect, the directors don't portray him as a despicable person; instead they show a man who's aware of his failings, but is trying to get his life back on track, but also desperately needs society to let him. Kevin Bacon is very convincing in his role. He visibly wrestles with his demons, and shows genuine contrition for his past shortcomings. He makes it possible for the audience to show some empathy for him, amidst all that we know.

To layer his character more, he has a very tender relationship with Vickie, a co-worker at the yard, played by Kyra Sedgwick. She brings to their union a sensuality that Walter cannot allow himself, plus some skeletons from her own past, that seem to redress the balance. When she learns about his past, she understandably takes it badly, but ultimately displays a level of understanding that it is clear we should be feeling too.

The power of the movie lies in this internal struggle that we too are forced to share. Should we care for this man, even though if he lived in our neighbourhood, would we be so understanding? The movie doesn't steer away from the realities of Walter's desires, and even puts him in the sort of situations that make the audience cringe - these are important to further emphasise the dichotomy in our own minds. Ultimately, how he copes with these scenarios will determine his destiny. What adds to the complexity, is that given these couple of make-or-break situations, Walter battles with himself, and ends up doing the right thing. It's clear that his reltionship with Vickie, and the overbearing attentions of a local cop, played (brilliantly) by Mos Def, offer him hope, and chance for redemption.

Sedgwick is excellent as Vickie, shocked yet touched by the tenderness of their relationship, choosing to see the good in Walter. Of course, Bacon (in the same way as Gene Hackman proves in his career), always produces the goods, but in this movie he streatches himself. It's an outstanding performance.

While this isn't a Saturday night date movie, it's a very brave film for all the actors and the the director (Kassell) to take on. All refuse to shy away from the unpleasant nature of Walter's tendencies, but manage to add a humanity and sensitivity to a storyline that on paper (and in reality) is both controversial and unpalatable. This is an unsettling watch, but one which really cares about the central character, and gives the audience the space to love and hate him in equal measure. 7/10.