Redford could have Eastwood's status except for the fact that Redford still insists that he be the star. The man must think he still holds leading man status. He doesn't. He should employ some talent like Hilary Swank, or a Jason Ritter, and give himself a supporting role. But if you know Redford, you know his ego is too big for something like that. Many of these reviews mention his pedigree...well, movies like this didn't get him a pedigree. The Clearing is two vague, and boring non-thrillers about a guy who apparently doesn't want to live. By the time I left the theater I didn't care whether Redford's character lived or died. The movie is short on details, short on drama, short on thrills...yes, it's well-acted. So what? Just because you act well in a bad movie doesn't make it a good movie. It's just a well-acted bad movie. I don't know who reads scripts for Redford (might still be Bill Holderman), or if he does it himself, but he should trade some acting talent for reading talent.
Review of The Clearing
