Ransom (1996)

hyped garbage

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Mel Gibson once again comes up trumps with this acclaimed thriller, can this man do no wrong? After BRAVEHEART, there's been this, LETHAL WEAPON 4, PAYBACK, a great run of films. RANSOM is an expertly crafted thriller which pushes all the right buttons and notches up the tension and suspense as Gibson engages in a complex game with the kidnappers of his son. The theme of ransom is fully explored in this intelligent film, which is enlightening as well as entertaining. Also, it's realistic, brutally so in some cases, and has a great cast of performers.Okay, so Gibson is playing the same guy he always plays - the twinkle in his eye, the jokes, the cool exterior, and outbursts of violence. The nice tough guy, but it's a winning formula and once again it works. He is well supported by Rene Russo (surprise, surprise, these two are stapled together) as his wife, and surprisingly she is not so bad this time around. The actor playing the chief negotiator, Delroy Lindo, is also excellent.The bad guys are pleasingly fleshed out for this film, there are no two-dimensional villains, all characters have a motive and act in believable ways. Lili Taylor puts in a sympathetic portrayal as a woman caught up in the crimes, while Liev Schreiber also fills out a minor role. However, it's Gary Sinise who once again steals the show as the cool villain, he's charismatic and ruthless. It's a shame this guy gets typecast as the villain, though, as I'd like to see him in a 'good' role for a change.Among the many violent verbal outbursts there are some effective, if brief, action sequences, such as a shootout at a quarry and an excellent moment where Sinise turns on his fellow criminals and guns them all down in cold blood. It's the ending, though, which turns out to be one of the best endings of an action film I've ever seen, even better than DIE HARD...a rare case where the punishment fits the crime. Sinise gets beaten, broken, lacerated, and finally shot six or seven times before dying, and did he deserve it. RANSOM is a solid, one of a kind film, bolstered by a charming Gibson and rarely putting a foot wrong, thankfully not relying on explosions in the action stakes (nothing blows up for a change). I saw it first at the cinema and again on video, and it didn't disappoint me either time. Well worth your time and money.

After being reminded how good an actor Mel Gibson can be in Expendables 3, I have decided to revisit some of his earlier work. This time around i decided to watch 1996's Ransom. I saw this in the cinema when it was released, but for some reason I have never revisited it. And I had totally forgotten how good this movie is!! All the cast are superb. I cannot praise them highly enough here. Gibson who has contributed some tough fisted, hard as nails characters over the years is perfect as the vulnerable panic stricken father. Re teaming with Gibson after Lethal Weapon 3 is Rene Russo who is excellent as the desperate mother. Gary Sinese, Delroy Lindo, Donnie Whalberg, Liev Shrieber and Paul Guilfoyle are all solid support. There is not one weak link in the castRon Howard has directed a movie that is a highly professional piece of work, swift and suspenseful, with a good sense of pace and atmosphere it makes for perfect entertainment.Gibson is truly a great actor, and hopefully he can sort his personal problems and demons out, because as we all know Hollywood loves comebacks.

Mel Gibson is one of the best actors I have ever seen and this film yet again blow my mind. After watching other fantastic films that Mel Gibson has done I have leaned that I can't be disappointed with the films he acts in. This film shows just how far a father would go just to save the life of his son. Gibson is a very rich owner of a his own air port and because of this he becomes a target and so does his wife and child. Well at a day trip to the park Mel and his wife lose track of there son and next thing they know he is gone and not long after that they get a video of there son tied up and a voice demanding a ransom for his return. Mel and his wife agree to the terms and attempt to hand over the ransom of $2 million but it all goes to hell thanks to the kidnappers and Mel derides to turn the tables and place a bounty of $4 million on the kidnappers heads for the return of his son and the delivery of the kidnappers, Dead or Alive! The film is a fantastic ride and by far one of Mel Gibson's best films. The film is full of money, action, FBI, dirty cops and many more. The film also stars Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Liev Schreiber and Paul Guilfoyle.

I found this movie to be a complete garbage, like most of the movies starring (or directed) by Mel Gibson. (I think that "The Passion of the Christ" might be one of the very few notorious exceptions)This movie is pathetic and boring. It lacked an interesting, likable characters or any kind of redeeming value. There simply wasn't anything good about this atrocious film.It was a terrible film, and it was the worst Ron Howard movie, along with his "Da Vinci Code" film (A terrible adaptation of an equally terrible book) and the dreadful "Angels & Demons".If you want to see a good movie directed by Ron Howard see "Cinderella Man" or "Apollo 13" and skip this nonsense.