Ransom (Special Edition)
by Ron Howard
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Brawley Nolte, Delroy Lindo, Gary Sinise, Mel Gibson, Rene RussoDirector: Ron Howard
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
Producer: Adam Schroeder
Producer: Aldric La'auli Porter
Producer: Brian Grazer
Writer: Alexander Ignon
Writer: Cyril Hume
Writer: Richard Maibaum
Writer: Richard Price
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Published), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 121 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-03-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Product features:
- In this action-thriller, Academy Award(R)-winning superstar Mel Gibson (Best Director, BRAVEHEART, 1995) is Tom Mullen, a wealthy executive whose charmed life is suddenly shattered when his young son is abducted and held for ransom by a gang of ruthless criminals! That's when Mullen defies the experts and takes matters into his own hands . boldly turning the tables on the kidnappers in a last
Movie Reviews of Ransom (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Wow!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok, not too many times does a movie come along and have me wondering what the heck is going on.
RANSOM took me by surprise. Yes, it's a contrived "we have your kid, you want him back, you pay" plot and storyline. But, it's how it is played out that makes this movie good entertainment.
Now, no "fictional" movie is ever going to depict real life. But, suspend the "reality" for the movie and you go along for a wild ride. Tom Mullen (Gibson) is an airline executive, built the company from the ground-up, and will do anything to protect it. Kate (Russo) is his wife, who obviously has seen the ups and downs of their life, but has honored her "for better for worse" marriage vows. Then, they have a talented and bright child Sean (Brawley Nolte) who isn't too neglected and seems to have adequate child/parent time with each parent.
In what we should expect to happen, does indeed happen, the child is taken for ransom. But, it's in the how and the who that really grips us. He is taken from a public place which shows the kidnappers as thumbing their nose under everyone, and shows us we are too complacent in our feelings of security in public places, even during the day.
Det. Jimmy Shaker (Sinise) is the ring-leader, and I think his identity coming out sooner is to me part of the whole riddle and scheme of the movie, after all, he has no motive....well he does, but we will get to that later. He seems to be functionally insane. He can function in public, do his job and then he's a psycho on top of it all. How else can you do what he did??
After a botched "money drop" attempt, Mullen finds himself in a situation where he ponders "would paying the money really insure my son's safe return"? And he's right. We know it wouldn't. And he attempts to convince his wife that it's not about the money, it's about getting their son back alive. Once the kidnapper has their money, they have no reassurance if the boy will come back alive, which is the whole point behind paying the ransom, now isn't it?
So... since it's all about money, why not turn it into a bounty? Which is what Mullen does. Who wouldn't turn in someone they know for $2 million? Which is what he is counting on, and Shaker didn't. Now Shaker has to keep calm (which he can't do, since his scheme is coming apart at the seems along with everyone he's around) and he's going beserk, while everyone else is trying to abandon the plan.
And Shaker doesn't like people "bailing" on him. Can anyone say "psycho"?
Shaker decides to give in, and gives the child back alive, killing all his co-horts in the process. But, it's when his greed gets the better of him he gets found out. Had he followed the plan, likely he would have been sipping margaritas in Mexico, but he had to have to money early and pays the ultimate price. Apparently his meds didn't kick in to save his brain or his life.
Yes, Mel Gibson might have over-acted as the father. But since it's fiction who are we to argue with that? I did enjoy the balcony scene where for a moment we thought he was going to jump. After all, he thought he'd killed his son. I was hoping he wouldn't jump, then again Shaker wouldn't have won either, but it didn't happen, which was a good thing.
Rene Russo was wonderful as the mother, she had a more realistic charm in the role, but likely wouldn't have faired as well against Sinise.
Gary Sinise was wonderful in the movie as far as the crazy bad guy. He stands out more so in the movie since you're wondering what the heck set this guy off. He can play bad guys just as well as good guys (which is why I just love him in CSI: NY).
As Shaker is talking/rambling on, we realize one thing, the motive. He wonderfully explains his motive--he saw criminals everyday getting off by buying their way out of trouble. Mullen had recently done so with the Jackie Brown deal. Since Mullen didn't mind paying to stay out of jail/prison, then why not pay to get his son back?
Brawley Nolte did a wonderful job as Sean, and it does tug at your heartstrings to see how he was treated and then when he recognizes his kidnapper's voice.
Donnie Wahlberg did a wonderful job as the only friend the kid seemed to have in the whole ordeal, and made him a promise that was eventually carried out.
The rest of the cast were wonderful, and I wish I could remember all the actors in this movie.
The FBI were portrayed as neutral, they were trying to help the Mullens get their son back, while the father decided to take things into his own hands. At least it stayed away from "the FBI saved the day" plot. The movie played out on it's own, and could have been directed by anyone. The cast seemed to compliment each other.
If you have DVR (and you're not paying any extra to record it), record it from a movie channel once, if you like buy it; if not, then save the money, and delete.
I for one, am going to get the DVD.
Summary of Ransom (Special Edition)
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