No Second Chances
THE WOODSMAN

RATING: B

Starring Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgewick, Eve, Mos Def, David Alan Grier and Benjamin Bratt. Music by Nathan Larson, Production Designer Stephen Beadrice, Director of Photography Xavier Perez Grobet, Edited by Brian A. Kates, Lisa Firetman, Executive Producers Damon Dash, Brook and Dawn Lenfest, Screenplay by Nicole Kasell and Steven Fechter, Based on the play by Steven Fechter, Produced by Lee Daniels, Directed by Nicole Kassell.

Rated R, Running Time 85 mins., 1.85 to 1 Academy Standard Aspect Ratio.

Kevin Bacon in a soulful performance, is Walter Rosswood an ex-con, recently released after a twelve year stint. The manager of a construction company (David Alan Grier) provides him a job as a saw man and with a new apartment Walter begins a sheltered existence on the outside. Walter keeps to himself, avoiding conversation with the company secretary (Eve) or socializing with co-workers. All of that changes when he meets Vicki (Kyra Sedgewick), a dock loader whose persistence leads to sharing Walter's bed. Even as they begin an affair, Vicki is still puzzled as to why Walter is so closed off.

Walter reveals to her that he's a convicted pedophile: he did twelve years for molesting little girls. Vicki is disgusted by what the man has done, but has no hate towards him. Nevertheless, Walter continues to push her away because he knows he's damaged goods. Despite the fact that Walter is ostracized by fellow workers when they find out what he's done, Vicki isn't scared one bit and continues to pursue him. Undergoing psychiatric evaluations with an assigned therapist, Walter longs for the day to be normal. He has Vicki's support as well as that of his childhood friend and brother-in-law Carlos (Benjamin Bratt), who is trying to get his wife, Walter's sister, to open up and allow him back into their lives.

Even with the support of Vicki and Carlos, the world won't make it easy for Walter. His parole officer played by Mos Def is prejudiced and constantly threatens him; waiting for they day he'll slip up and be hauled off to jail. There's also the fact that Walter encounters adolescent girls just about everywhere he goes: in the street, on a bus or in the mall. He finds himself following a young girl on several occasions, or attempting conversation unsure of whether he's slipping or just testing himself. Despite his hostility, Walter reveals these things to his therapist, who sees it as healthy communication and a step in the right direction, but Walter just feels he's losing his mind. Then there's the question of whether the well dressed businessman Walter sees talking to young school boys out his window is a pedophile or a creation of his guilt and imagination.

Kevin Bacon is probably one of few name actors with the courage to take on such a role within a controversial subject. The nearly ageless Bacon has played everything from a cop to a goofball to a serial killer and even himself. This is the second time he's played a pedophile, but where in "Sleepers" he was a sadistic guard who molested young boys, here he plays a tormented individual who is struggling to heal. What's amazing about Bacon is that his performance is muted in contrast to his energetic roles of the past.

Despite what he's done, despite his crime, who he has hurt and the fact he should be punished, here is a man that deserves that second chance. The tragedy is that we live in an unforgiving world and no matter how hard he tries, no one will help him to heal or repay his debt. Walter just longs to be normal, he wants a normal life again. His idea of normal is "when I can carry on a conversation with a little girl without thinking about..." He wasn't the type of molester who engaged in intercourse, but found sexual pleasure from close contact, something that has been haunting him since childhood. Walter never reveals that his demons originated with his feelings for his younger sister, but we figure out that's where they came from and why she really won't see him.

Bacon is given wonderful support by his real life wife Kyra Sedgewick, in a role that involves full love scenes as well as the love for a wounded individual. Vicki develops a special bond with Walter because she found herself in the same predicament with her older brothers, yet survived and became stronger from it. No matter how much he tries to push her away he can't because she "sees good in you. Maybe you can't see it yet but I do." His lack of self-confidence hinders him. The man is trying hard to reform, but few are giving him a chance.

Bacon and Sedgewick's roles are also backed by impressive work from Mos Def (not so nice a guy here), Bratt, Eve and David Alan Grier who makes a memorable impression with just few lines. First time director Nicole Kassel has a winner here with this fine and simply crafted film that she co-adapted from Steven Fechter's stage play. It's a beautifully shot small gem that establishes the right tone, doesn't fall into predictability and exceeds by not being generic. At a sparse 85 minutes, the film is dense with raw emotion and complete realism. Not to mention an incredible performance from Bacon with an intelligent and sympathetic character that will be long remembered from his career.