Ransom

Reviewed by: Joe Blenkle

Rating:

Cast: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo and Lili Taylor

Studio: Touchstone Pictures

Producer: Scott Rudin

Director: Ron Howard

Screenplay: Richard Price and Alexander Ignon

MPAA Rating: R

Release Date: Nov. 8, 1996

Running Time: 121 Minutes

	Ransom picture by Lorey Sebastian (c) 1996 Touchstone Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

    In the theaters for just over a week and Touchstone Pictures' new film starring Mel Gibson has climbed to No. 1 at the box office. Ransom stars Gibson as multi-millionaire Tom Mullen, who has risen from a humble beginning as a pilot to the owner of one of the nation's top airlines. He, along with his wife Kate (Rene Russo), are on top of the world - until they face every parents nightmare - their son is kidnapped and held for a $2 million ransom.

    Despite the threat of killing their son if the police are called in, Mullen involves the FBI, working with Agent Lonnie Hawkins (Delroy Lindo) to devise a foolproof plan to get young Sean (Brawley Nolte) back safely. Mullen decides to pay the ransom and is forced to go through an elaborate scheme set by the kidnappers to deliver the money - from switching cars to diving fully clothed into a swimming pool to recover a key to a locker where further instructions are waiting. Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise), the "brains" behind the kidnapping seems, to know every move Mullen makes and taunts him at every turn. It's no wonder, as Shaker is a cop and is using sophisticated devices to keep tabs on and communicate with Mullen.

    When the initial drop of the ransom goes bad, including the death of one of the kidnappers, Mullen talks the abductors into another meeting, but on his way to the drop he has second thoughts. Mullen becomes convinced that paying the ransom will result in the death of his son, so he decides on another course of action. Rather than giving the $2 million to the kidnappers, he offers it up as a reward to the first person who can bring him whoever abducted his son - dead or alive.

    Enraged by Mullen's actions, Shaker is more determined than ever to extract the money from Mullen any way he can. The reverse-ransom, however, throws the remaining four kidnappers into a state of distrust and confusion, resulting in Shaker devising an even more far out scheme to get the money. A battle of wits ensues between Mullen and Shaker - with the ultimate prize on the line: the life of Sean Mullen.

    Ransom will keep you on the edge of your seat right down to the final moments of the film. Gibson is superb as the father who is trying to keep his cool knowing that one wrong move may cost the life of his son and Russo adds even more to the film as she is caught between doing what she believes is right (paying the ransom) and standing behind her husband as he faces off with what could be a final - and fatal - showdown with the kidnappers. Return to The Movie Corner