The Woodsman

Time to revisit an important film from 2004 that you probably aren't going to be in a hurry to see if I don't give you that gentle push. The Woodsman started out as a minimalist play that director Nicole Kassell felt strongly enough about to approach Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball) to see if she could get funding to make the film. That led to a call to Kevin Bacon who loved the screenplay so much that he talked his wife (Kyra Sedgwick) into co-starring with him and helped produce himself. So a whole lotta talented people went to great lengths to bring this to you. Oh, and did I mention that it's about a convicted pedophile?

Now before you run screaming from the room, consider this story: Walter (Bacon) is trying to re-enter life after 12 years in prison - he moves into an apartment, gets a job, sees his counselor, meets a girl. He tries very hard to lead an unassuming life. But his past is everywhere - he is shunned by his sister, harassed by a local cop (Mos Def) and a nosy co-worker (Eve) and tempted by his own dark yearnings. This story is told from Walter's point of view - we see his pain, his desire to be 'normal.' And in a final gut wrenching moment, his ultimate ability to see through the eyes of a child.

Kevin Bacon makes Walter so real - so human - that it will take your breath away. It is undoubtedly the performance of a remarkable career. I will call a film important when it takes me to a part of the human condition that I would never experience otherwise. This is such a film and you really shouldn't miss it. Check out the website here.