RANSOM
A film review by George McAdams
Copyright 1996 George McAdams
Movie Grade 3.5 out of 4, Web Site Grade 4 out of 4
Moviegoers have reasons to begin celebrating the early arrival of the holiday season with the pre-Thanksgiving release of "Ransom ( http://www.movies.com/rn/shock.html ), Ron Howard's latest film, starring Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Delroy Lindo, and Gary Sinise. With the expected glut of sugar-coated holiday films just around the corner, this is one you'll be able to return to for repeated viewings; however, don't get out your magnifying glass too much, or you'll find some scenes will leave you with questions.
This emotional action/drama that centers around the kidnapping of the son of an airline mogul, Tom Mullen, played by Gibson, delivers the wrenching conflicts of parents faced with the dilemma of how to get back their son from an abductor, played by Sinise, whose systematic plan to obtain a ransom is second only in his desire to get plebe's justice from the rich Gibson, which adds more psychological weight to the teeter-tottering the protagonist and antagonist give each other with each downward thrust of their human character. While most kidnappings envolve around the waiting and wondering about whether the person kidnapped will be released, Gibson takes control of the situation by using the ransom as a $2,000,000 reward for the person who turns-in the kidnappers.
The righteous indignation displayed by Gibson is similar to others in films, Harrison Ford in "Patriot Games," and even Charlie Sheen in "Wall Street," come to mind; but, Gibson transcends this one-level response by his physical reaction to the dramatic landmind that explodes when he collapses soon after he realizes his proactive actions may have led to his son being shot by the kidnappers.
Ransom is a movie that fully delivers, with none of the actors giving a weak, or even lukewarm, performance. Even young Brawley Nolte, Nick Nolte's son, deliver's out-of-the-gate. The small twists of illogic that crop-up from time to time, only serve as reminders of just how complex movies are, but given that Howard has worked dramas before, "Backdraft," et.al., it is disappointing that they are there.
As for the Ransom ( http://www.movies.com/rn/mainmenu.html ) Web site, there are: Background notes on Director Ron Howard ( http://www.movies.com/rn/ronhoward/ronhoward.html ), An interview with Howard ( http://www.movies.com/rn/ronhoward/interview.html ), Details about the premiere ( http://www.movies.com/rn/premiere/premiere.html ), Cast Interviews ( http://www.movies.com/rn/cast/cast.html ), The obligatory Shockwave trailer ( http://www.movies.com/rn/trailer/trailer.html ), An "ask the stars section ( http://www.movies.com/rn/askthestars/askthestars.html ), and AVI and Quicktime scenes with Howard discussing the story ( http://www.movies.com/rn/story/story.html ), the audience, and even the Internet ( http://.www.movies.com/cpk/ron5.mov).
The Web Site gets a 4 out of 4 rating, but be warned, the amount of information here is not fluff. Give yourself at least an hour to just read everything.
For other links to movie sites, be sure to check out the Movies-in-the-Net site at ( http://www.primenet.com/~george )
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