RANSOM
A film review by David Wilcock
Copyright 1997 David Wilcock
STARRING MEL GIBSON, RENE RUSSO AND GARY SINESE DIRECTED BY RON HOWARD TOUCHSTONE PICTURES RELEASE
Ron Howard teams up with Mel Gibson in what should be a fun packed, action thriller. However, there is one word that really describes what this film is like. And that word is 'Average'
This has to be one of the most 'ok' films I have ever seen. The plot is about Mel Gibson trying to get his son back after he is kidnapped by a group headed by a policeman (Sinese). However, halfway through the film, instead of Gibson paying the ransom, he decides to make it a 'reward' to the first person who brings the kidnapper to him, dead or alive.
Rene Russos part, as Gibsons wife, is underwritten, and hardly does anything in this movie at all. However, the best role in the movie has to Sinese. He has a real evil quality about him, and makes a very good bad guy
Another major problem with the film is that it is terribly overlong. The film goes on for 1/2 hour longer than it should. You're glad when it finally ends, which is a bad sign for a thriller.
Overall, I was disappointed with this film. It's like Ron Howard had nothing better to do, and made this to make some quick money. With a bit more development, this could of been one of the best thrillers of the year. However, it turns out to be merely average.
RATING=**1/2 out of ***** -- A DAVID WILCOCK REVIEW VISIT THE WILCOCK MOVIE PAGE FOR MORE REVIEWS http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/9061
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