Highly Overrated But Still Good

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Admirable film.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

When it was first released in 2004 "The Woodsman" was a highly controversial film because it offers a relatively sympathetic portrayal of a convicted child molester. When I say that the portrayal was "sympathetic" I do not mean that the film attempts to excuse or justify paedophilia. I mean that the main character, despite his crimes, is not depicted as a "monster" but as a human being with feelings and emotions of his own and, moreover, as a human being who is capable of redemption.That main character, Walter, returns home to Philadelphia after serving 12 years in prison for sexual offences against young girls. He gets a job at a local timber mill (hence the film's title). The film explores how Walter attempts to rebuild his life with the aid of his co-worker and girlfriend Vicki, who opts to remain with him even after she learns about his offences, and his brother-in-law Carlos, the only member of his family who stood by him after his conviction. The authorities do not seem to be a lot of help to him; his probation officer, for example, does not seem concerned that he lives in a flat overlooking a primary school and he is constantly pestered by a police officer named Lucas who quite clearly hopes to catch Walter reoffending.Special praise is due to Kevin Bacon for his sensitive and well-judged performance in the leading role; he makes us realise that Walter is human, and yet we are never allowed to forget the seriousness of what he has done, even if Walter himself would at times prefer to forget it. There are also excellent performances from Kyra Sedgwick as Vicki and from Hannah Pilkes as Robin, a young girl whom Walter meets in the local park.Because of its subject-matter the film had only a very limited cinematic release in both America and Britain. It was a brave move on the part of the film-makers to tackle a subject as controversial as this, but I think that their courage paid off. "The Woodsman" is not a great film; the plot is not always easy to follow and the dialogue is at times difficult to hear. It does, however, make an important contribution to the debate around the moral question of how society should deal with those who suffer from a compulsion to commit acts which others find abhorrent. 6/10

Great performance by Bacon. The questions is whether he fits the role or he is just perfect for playing a timid "freak". Beyond this there are many good reasons for watching this movie. Even if it depends on whether you are able to empathize with a sex offender/child molester, you might get the clue what it feels like to see forbidden things like he does. Well, it might not only be about seeing things but I am pretty sure that sex crimes committed by real pedophiles often start with such (yeah I am implying a little craziness!). After all, don't watch this movie if you already are like the mostly judging people who are not able to see human fates behind their acts...

I'm not going to say that pedophilia is a form of love the way some reviewers have. Pedophilia is an illness; it's sick, and can mentally, physically and emotionally destroy a child victim for life. It's the same as rape, and that's not love. That's destruction. I myself know a kid who was sexually abused by a parent and it's a horrible crime.But should there be a second chance offered if a pedophile does their time and wants to change? In the Woodsman, Walter (Kevin Bacon) gets released from prison after spending 12 years for molesting little girls. He has only one chance to redeem himself and forget his disgusting past. He's definitely not a stereotypical pedophile so his new co-workers at his new job at the local lumber factory don't know his history, but his family and friends are horrified by him and have left him behind. Even his brother in law, despite trying to help Walter, keeps a close eye on him. But Walter meets a little girl named Robin (she's being sexually abused by her father) and a child molester named "Candy", and suddenly he has the chance to improve the lives of the victim children.The Woodsman isn't perfect, there are a few flaws. For one thing, the coincidence that Walter's new neighborhood just happens to have a pedophile at the park and an abused girl. It's not the most original movie, it's like they combined Taxi Driver (1976) with Happiness (1998). The police officer is mean, but so mean to Walter that it gets unrealistic at times.Still, it does have its moments. The scene with Walter and Robin at the park together, when Walter realizes for the first time the damage caused by sexual child abuse, is one of the saddest yet hopeful moments in a movie I've ever seen. The acting was great on all accounts, the soundtrack wasn't bad and the movie didn't have to rely on pervy sex jokes or crude humor to get an audience.In reality, it's up to the law to decide the punishment for sexual abusers, and every case is different. But whether you agree with it or not, this is only a fictional film, a scenario to show us that maybe people do have the potential to change. I think The Woodsman was one of the best films I've seen in a while, I highly recommend it.

Unbelievably beautiful and heart-piercing performance by Kevin Bacon! I couldn't help but tear up at his agonizing battle towards being a normal, socially-accepted human being. Bacon plays the role of Walter, a child molester who has been recently released from prison after doing a ten-year sentence. The movie follows his attempts to reunite with his estranged sister, and psychologically and socially conform to his new surroundings, bearing the burden of his past sins along the way.The story does not sympathize with Walter in any way. On the contrary, it portrays him as a weak man, easily shattered and susceptible to relapse. Nevertheless, it focuses on the society and the prejudiced mainstream view that provocatively incriminates and gives no chance for redemption, forgetting that evil is a fire that feeds on hatred and rejection. The Woodsman only poses some humanistic questions and leaves you to ponder on then: Aren't our sins the outcome of other's sins? Are those sins beyond redemption? Are we really to blame?The only letdown, story-wise, is the seemingly unrealistic and forced pieces of information. They are supposed to endorse the plot and the underlying dilemma of the story. However, they only made things too incredible to me. For example, Vickie discloses to Walter that she was sexually abused by her brothers. Walter and his sister had this sexual intimacy as kids. Robin, the girl in the park, reveals that she is being molested by her father. Walter spots a sex offender across the street!! What the hell Fetcher and Kassell were thinking?! A story of the Land of the Sexually Perverted?!