Robin…like the bird…

The Woodsman is one of the most disturbing films you’ll watch in 2005 – covering the most taboo of subjects – child molesting. Its not entirely pleasant to watch – Kevin Bacon plays a sex offender who is rehabilitated to society after a 12 year jail sentence…he find a job in run-down timber yard in Philadelphia and with no trace of irony is given an apartment across the road from a primary school. The story sees the inevitable and quite obvious ‘outing’ of his secret in the workplace, and the beginnings of a decent love story with the tough, tomboy character played by his real life wife Kyra Sedgwick.

The movie is a tough one – the subject matter is unpleasant and uneasy, but Kevin Bacon covers it well – the scenes of him trying not to follow the previous temptations in an uneasy and twitchy scene with a young girl in a park, and the observation of another like himself – are really well handled. Surrounding cast members who include Eve playing the timber yard secretary who cannot handle the secret she finds out, and Mos Def who plays the most unlikely and unforgiving cop. I really enjoyed this – Kevin Bacon is excellent, and the screenplay and camera work really suit the subject matter and great acting. 8/10.