After a botched ransom drop, a father goes on the news and
offers the $2 million ransom as a bounty for the kidnappers' heads. ACTION/CRIME
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Ransom (1996)Directed by Ron Howard
Written by Richard Price and Alexander Ignon Starring Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Brawley Nolte, Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber, Donnie Wahlberg, Evan Handler |
The 1990's is full of action thrillers. Some of the best in the genre came out of that decade (Speed, Air Force One, The Rock, etc.), and even now, there's films I'm discovering for the first time that rival some of those longtime favorites. Plus, I've been on a bit of a Mel Gibson kick lately, and this one was on my list. Ransom is a great concept that's fueled by a fantastic cast of 90's character actors and some tense, unpredictable storytelling. Turns out Ron Howard has an even more impressive resume than I thought.
Gibson plays airline mogul and concerned father Tom Mullen, whose son is kidnapped by corrupt cop Jimmy Shaker (Sinise). Shaker, disguising his voice, demands $2 million in cash. When the FBI botches the drop, Tom realizes that no matter what he does, the kidnappers will likely kill his son. So, he steals control away from them by going on the news and offering the ransom money as a bounty to anyone who brings him the kidnappers, dead or alive. Easily one of Mel Gibson's most badass movie moments, and one that turns this from a movie of the week into something to remember. Now, it's a game of chicken between Tom and Jimmy, and the audience can't wait to see who blinks first. Ransom is fairly dated, what with its cast and technology at hand. But it's a very entertaining movie, and that's what I value above all else, especially from action movies. This one is a winner, and it definitely has a chance at gaining a new following once it goes up on some streaming sites. |