run time: 121 mins
rated: R
considered: Crime, Thriller
starring: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise
movie summary: When a rich man’s son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals. (www.imdb.com)
my thoughts: Ransom stars two of Hollywood’s hottest 90s stars Mel Gibson and Rene Russo, as Tom & Kate Mullen, a powerful couple whose son Sean is kidnapped. Gary Sinise plays Detective Jimmy Shaker, who is the kidnapper’s leader who wants two million dollars in exchange for the kid. The group targets Mullen because he’s an airline company owner who secretly paid off a bribe to secure his company’s future. After the heart arch of dealing with the ransom requests, Mullen and Shaker play cat and mouse game to try to get what they want from the other without giving up what they already have. Mullen gets tired of playing the game by the rules, numerous attempts to drop the ransom off, that he goes on tv and offers up the two million as a reward to anyone who turns the kidnappers and returns Sean home safely. Shaker wasn’t expecting this turn of events, so he throws his whole plan out the window and claims the two million for himself.
This movie was a hit back in the mid-1990s. It featured an all-star cast who made a simple kidnapping plot into a two-hour thrilling adventure. Although each side suffered bumps on the road to what they want, you won’t be disappointed with the way things turn out.
my star rating: 7 out of 10
Ten Stars or Less 