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Ransom

Ransom (1996)

November. 08,1996
|
6.7
|
R
| Action Thriller

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

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Reviews

Cathardincu
1996/11/08

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

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Baseshment
1996/11/09

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

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AutCuddly
1996/11/10

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

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Numerootno
1996/11/11

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

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TheLittleSongbird
1996/11/12

Although not being the biggest fan of Mel Gibson (don't dislike him either), 'Ransom' did seem like it had an interesting story going for it, Ron Howard has done his fair share of good films and Gary Sinese has done work that is worth admiration.'Ransom' is a long way from flawless and it could have been better. At the same time, it is an entertaining and tense film as well as very well played. 'Ransom' is a film that starts off very well, even if a few things could have been done better, but loses steam towards the end. Like some people here, was really not crazy about the ending which reeked of studio interference. It was wildly improbable and the way everything was resolved was anti-climactic and overwrought.The secondary characters could have been better written. For the early reveal of the mastermind kidnapper to properly work, the kidnappers needed to be developed well. Other than Shaker the rest of the gang are very thinly sketched, well performed but one knows very little about them. There is very little to Sean too, making it difficult to sympathise with his dire situation. Tom's motives and reasons for such drastic decision making could have been clearer at times.Lastly, while the back and forth between Mel Gibson and Gary Sinese was essentially the film's driving force and very effectively executed in giving some great tension, the reveal of who was behind it all felt like it was revealed too early, not having it done later diluted the suspense somewhat.However, Howard does do a more than competent job directing, creating very nice visuals, good sense of mood and high levels of tension, although the more action-oriented parts felt too stagy and overblown. 'Ransom' was clearly made with a lot of skill, everything looking super slick and atmospheric.James Horner's score has some beautiful moments as well as some haunting ones, though to me he did do better scores. The script flows well and delivers on the tension, shining especially in the back and forth between Tom and Shaker. The story is taut and twisty, only unravelling in plausibility at the end, the big twist handled more than adequately. One really connects with what Tom and Kate are going through in one of the worst things that can happen to anybody.Gibson is a very commanding lead, and while she is somewhat wasted with an underwritten character Rene Russo does do a very good job with what she's given. The supporting cast are all good, with standouts being Delroy Lindo, Donnie Wahlberg and Lillie Taylor. Best of all, and other than the back and forth between him and Gibson the best thing about 'Ransom' is Sinese, who sends chills up the spine while adding a few wry twists to his characters in some of his best work he's done.In conclusion, above average, tense and entertaining thriller, but falls a little short. 6/10 Bethany Cox

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OllieSuave-007
1996/11/13

Ransom is an intense and edge-of-your-seat crime thriller from to start to finish, about millionaire Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) whose son Sean (Brawley Nolte) is kidnapped. As a result, he utilizes a clever method to get his son back.This movie cuts to the chase with story elements that grab your attention right away with its fast-paced plot and intriguing acting, making you eager to find out what highs and lows Tom will go through to recover his son (just wished the filmmakers elaborated Rene Russo's mother role more). And, this film gives you a taste of drama and consequences what being a millionaire might lead to, and gives you a mind-boggling twist on the kidnapper's sinister plans.It's a kidnapper movie with a unique and solid twist - good film to watch for a weekend activity! Grade B+

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FlashCallahan
1996/11/14

Tom Mullen has it all, a happy family, success and wealth. One day during a conference at the park, his son goes missing.By the time he arrives home, he receives a video-taped message of his son, who has been kidnapped.He is willing to pay the ransom, but he calls the FBI in secret.When the drop goes bad, Tom tries another tactic against the criminals, using the money as a bounty on their heads...A wonderfully high concept movie, this was released when Gibson was one of the biggest stars in the world, and this has to be one of his most adult orientated movies of the nineties, as the majority of his non-directed movies focused more on his charm and wit.For the most part, it's a solid movie, with great performance from the four central characters, and Howard keeps the tension taut throughout the movie.As Hollywood blockbusters go, it's refreshing to see something as dark and as sinister as this, and some of the scenes here are very disturbing, and Sinise proves he can play one disturbing bad guy, as well as a wholesome good guy.It falters off into generic action territory come the end, but all in all, it's nice to see a movie as high profile as this, not spoon feeding the audience.

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sol1218
1996/11/15

***SPOILERS*** Mel Gibson as Endeavor Airline President Tom Mullen is put on the spot when his 12 year old son Sean,Brawley Nolte,is kidnapped by a gang of hoods lead one of New York's Finest hero cop Let. Jimmy Shaker, Gary Sinise. It's in him feeling low paid, like getting $80,000.00 plus a year isn't enough for him!, and him being a disrespected member of the working class cop Shaker had all his life developed a deep seeded hatred of anyone with money. And he sees Mullen and his family as perfect targets for his insane paranoia against the rich and famous which he considers Tom Mullen to be member of.As it later turns out the two million dollars in ransom money he want's for Sean safe return is just a cover in what Shaker really wanted in having it both ways: Getting the money and at the same time killing the innocent Sean to satisfy his both blood and money lust! It take's a while for Tom to figure out just what a low-life piece of you know what Shanker really is, far lower then his lame brain accomplices,and decides to play a game of chicken with him against the advice of his wife Kate, Rene Russo, and the FBI Agent in charge of the kidnap case Agent Lonnie Hawkins, Delroy Lindo.Going on TV to make an announcement to his son's kidnappers Tom instead of paying up tell the shocked and at the same time confused hoods that the 2 million he's got in ransom money is now a bounty on their heads for anyone who can track them down and bring them to justice! That's unless they return Sean safely and unharmed to him and Kate. With the heat now on the kidnappers they start to unravel and it's hero cop Shanker who's the first to jump ship! Not in turning himself in and releasing Sean but gunning down in cold blood his cohorts and making it look like he save Sean from his kidnappers! In the process of his "heroic action" Shanker is shot and wounded by his fellow kidnapper and lover Maris Connor,Lili Taylor, who in return Shaker blasts to kingdom come. ***SPOILERS*** Now things really start getting interesting with Shanker wanting to collect his hard earned 4 million, Tom had since doubled the bounty price, that he murdered some half dozen people for and jumps the gun by showing up at Tom's fifth Ave penthouse to collect. That instead of waiting a few day for the hero of the years ceremony at City Hall where he's to be given the four million dollar check by both Tom and the Mayor of the City of New York! Slasher like ending with both Tom and Shaker having it out at the bank where he's,Tom, to deposit the four million dollar check into an off shore account in Shanker's name. Tom had gotten the lowdown to who Shaker really is, Sean's kidnapper, by seeing Sean wetting his pants when he heard his voice, at the Mullen penthouse, the same voice he heard when he was held kidnapped and blindfold by Shaker and his gang. This touched off one of the goriest ending in movie history as Shaker after being shot to pieces by police and FBI bullets and cut to ribbons, by going head first through a plate glass store window, still had enough left to pull out a gun out of his ankle holster only to get plugged with enough lead that would have sunk a fully equipped and manned US Navy nuclear aircraft-carrier!

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