The Missing Person (2009)

Private detective John Rosow is hired to tail a man on a train from Chicago to Los Angeles. Rosow gradually uncovers the man's identity as a missing person; one of the thousands presumed ... See full summary »

Director:

Noah Buschel

Writer:

Noah Buschel

Stars:

Michael Shannon, Frank Wood, Amy Ryan

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Shannon	...	John Rosow
Frank Wood	...	Harold Fullmer
Amy Ryan	...	Miss Charley
Linda Emond	...	Mrs. Fullmer
John Ventimiglia	...	Hero
Margaret Colin	...	Lana
Paul Sparks	...	Gus Papitos
Yul Vazquez	...	Don Edgar
Paul Adelstein	...	Drexler Hewitt
Kate Arrington	...	Jane Rosow
Anthony Esposito	...	Javier
Liza Weil	...	Agent Chambers
Daniel Franzese	...	Agent Craig
Merritt Wever	...	Mabel Page
Gary Wilmes	...	L.A. Cop (Eric Jelin)

Storyline

Private detective John Rosow is hired to tail a man on a train from Chicago to Los Angeles. Rosow gradually uncovers the man's identity as a missing person; one of the thousands presumed dead after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Persuaded by a large reward, Rosow is charged with bringing the missing person back to his wife in New York City.

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Plot Keywords:

cell phone | person in a car trunk | missing person | private detective | train | 

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Taglines:

John Rosow is a private investigator. And an alcoholic. He just got the case of his life.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The painting copied by Fullmer's son was "New York Movie" by Edward Hopper.

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Goofs

When the train pulls into what's supposed to be Union Station, Los Angeles, the platform is really in Downtown San Diego. John Rosow is next seen in front of Union Station which is 120 miles away by air. Previously, when he boarded the train (the California Zephyr) in Chicago, the same San Diego platform (including the trunk of a palm tree) can be seen briefly through the window. The California Zephyr does not go to either San Diego or LA. It terminates in Emeryville.

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Quotes

[first lines]
John Rosow: I could lie there forever. But the phone rang.
[ringing]
John Rosow: Hello?
[still ringing]

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Connections

Features Victory Through Air Power (1943)

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Soundtracks

Le Sacre Du Printemps
Written by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by the Brussels Philharmonic (as the Belgian Philharmonic Orchestra), Conducted by Alexander Rahbari
Courtesy of Boosey and Hawkes

User Reviews

Deliberately weary modern noir...at times quite arresting, and with a terrific lead performance

Michael Shannon is one of the finest new character actors working in films today; his performance here as a private investigator from New York, hired to trail a middle-aged man from Chicago to Los Angeles by train, is the centerpiece of "The Missing Person"...and is very nearly the entire show. Writer-director Noah Buschel was probably hoping to modernize the old private eye clichés (including booze, broads, and blaring saxophones on the soundtrack), but his movie doesn't really start cooking for at least a quarter of an hour into the proceedings. Buschel's pacing is deliberately slow, and Shannon's John Rosow is intentionally beleaguered and burnt-out, yet there's no reason to be so poky with this narrative (even Bogie livened up earlier on one of his cases). The film is well-produced and shot, though it runs the risk of losing viewers before it starts to take shape. Once it does, it becomes a rather fascinating throwback, its scenario seesawing between the old and new--like Philip Marlowe in the cell-phone era. **1/2 from ****

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 December 2009 (Australia)

Also Known As:

The Missing Person

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,715, 22 November 2009

Gross USA:

$17,896

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,896

Company Credits

Production Co:

The 7th Floor, Apropos Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1