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Amazon.com Essential Video
When it comes to ramping up to vein-bursting levels of tormented anxiety, Mel Gibson has a kind of mainstream intensity that makes him perfect for his heroic-father role in director Ron Howard's child-kidnapping thriller. When you think of Ransom, you automatically think of the scene in which Mel reaches his boiling point and yells, "Give me back my son!" to the kidnapper on the other end of several torturous phone calls. Trapped in the middle of any parent's nightmare, Mel plays a self-made airline mogul whose son (played by Brawley Nolte, son of actor Nick Nolte) is abducted by a close-knit group of uptight kidnappers. But when a king's ransom is demanded for the child's safe return, Mel turns the tables and offers the ransom as reward money for anyone who provides information leading to the kidnappers' arrest. Thus begins a nerve-racking battle of wills and a test of the father's conviction to carry out a plan that could cost his son's life. The boy's mother (played by Rene Russo, reunited with Gibson after Lethal Weapon 3) disapproves of her husband's life-threatening gamble, and a seasoned FBI negotiator (Delroy Lindo) is equally fearful of disaster as the search for the kidnappers intensifies. Through it all, Howard maintains a level of nail-biting tension to match Gibson's desperate ploy, and the plot twists are just clever enough to cancel out the overwrought performances and manipulative screenplay. Ransom may not be as sophisticated as its glossy production design would suggest, but it's a thriller with above-average intelligence and an emotion-driven plot that couldn't be more urgent. Adding to the intensity is a superior supporting cast including Gary Sinise, Lili Taylor, and Liev Schreiber as the kidnappers, who demonstrate that even the tightest scheme can unravel under unexpected stress. Remade from a 1956 film starring Glenn Ford, Ransom is diluted by a few too many subplots, but as a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, it's a slick and satisfying example of Hollywood entertainment. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
loaded with suspense and tension (4.5.5)
Feb 1 2008
Format:DVD
i liked this movie.it has some edge of your seat moments,and great
acting.while the acting is credible,i'm not sure how realistic the
actions of some of the characters are.there is a twist which i figured
out right away,the first time i watched it.i think that's because it
just seemed so obvious.nevertheless,the movie fun is fun,and
thrilling,and action packed right to the end.Mel Gibson puts in a
strong performance as does Gary Sinise.Rene Russo is also good,but has
a small role.i also liked Delroy Lindo.i thought he was good in his
role.interestingly,the Laser disc version of the film is 139
minutes,according to this site,while this version is only 121
minutes.i'm curious about the missing 17 minutes.anyway,for me,Ransom
is a 4.5/5
acting.while the acting is credible,i'm not sure how realistic the
actions of some of the characters are.there is a twist which i figured
out right away,the first time i watched it.i think that's because it
just seemed so obvious.nevertheless,the movie fun is fun,and
thrilling,and action packed right to the end.Mel Gibson puts in a
strong performance as does Gary Sinise.Rene Russo is also good,but has
a small role.i also liked Delroy Lindo.i thought he was good in his
role.interestingly,the Laser disc version of the film is 139
minutes,according to this site,while this version is only 121
minutes.i'm curious about the missing 17 minutes.anyway,for me,Ransom
is a 4.5/5
Mercy
Jun 30 2004
Format:DVD
Slick psychological thriller about the high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between a ruthless businessman and the kidnappers holding his son for ransom. Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) is the self-made head of a major airline who wears his aw-schucks affability like a suit of silk chain mail. When his boy (Brawley Nolte) is snatched by a gang of mercenary lowlifes, His true nature comes to the surface: Ignoring his tearful wife (Rene Russo) and the seasoned FBI agent (Delroy Lindo) assigned to the case, Mullen starts messing with the kidnappers, convicing that only he has the cojones to get his son back. Until the disappointingly conventional ending, in which the dad and the head baddie (Gary Sinise) go it mano a mano on the streets, this dark drama--based on a 1956 Glenn Ford picture of the same name--negotiates its narrative twists and turns with professional aplomb, even daring to make the hero an arrogant schmuck. As is often the case, the scumbags are far more interesting than the good guys, perhaps because they're not played by stars cocooned in suffocating personas.
Pass the time
May 2 2004
Format:DVD
ENOUGH with the "cat and mouse" expression! Anyway, this is another "Hollywood" movie. Very unrealistic, many times during the movie you will be thinking "that would NEVER happen". The beginning of the movie we see dad and son play around, laugh, and and have fun, as if that is a typical every day for them. (Who hasn't seen that 20 times before?)
This DVD was given a special edition, but I am unsure why. The featurette is boring, 3/4 of it are clips we've just seen from the movie.
Overall, sure it's mildly entertaining if you can ignore how unbelievable it is.
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Most recent customer reviews
MARVELOUS MEL-O-DRAMA
RANSOM is probably Ron Howard's most fully realized film to date. Howard helms a tense, literate script, without letting its potential maudlin come through. Read more
Published on April 29 2004 by Michael Butts
MUDDY OLD NON-ANAMORPHIC DVD-DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
The order page describes this DVD was anamorphic widescreen. It is not. Amazon refuses to make things good. We definitely would not have bought it. Read more
Published on April 16 2004 by Thursday's Child
one of the better remakes
I usally dont care for remakes! This was a remake of a 1955 version with Donna Reed and Glen Ford. But this is much better the raw emotion of Mel Gibson and Renee Russo just made... Read more
Published on April 7 2004 by ecurb
The Big Payoff?
At first glance, director Ron Howard's Ransom, seemed like a pretty solid thriller. However, after seeing it a second time on the special edition DVD, my feelings about it changed... Read more
Published on April 5 2004 by T. Lobascio
THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS DISC IS THE EXTRAS!
"Ransom" is the taut thriller about one man's desperation and determination to get back his kidnapped son. Read more
Published on Mar 28 2004 by Nix Pix
IF THIS IS A JOKE IT'S NOT A FUNNY ONE!
"Ransom" is the taut thriller about a man's desperation to get back his kidnapped son. Instead of paying the ransom, Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) decides to play a deadly game of cat... Read more
Published on Mar 24 2004 by Nix Pix
WATCH OUT! This title is NOT anamorphic!
While I think the movie is great, I thought everyone should be warned that this is the exact same non-anamorphic transfer as the previous release. Read more
Published on Mar 20 2004 by bunkaroo
new dvd coming
This is one of Mel Gibsons best movie's ranking up there with Braveheart, but a new 2 disc dvd will be released on march 23, so wait for it and get the good edtion.
Published on Jan 7 2004
Very Entertaining
The main reason why this film was so good is mainly because of Gary Senise who is one of the best actors in modern films. Read more
Published on Dec 6 2003
this movie is kind of weird
mel gibson stars as a milti millionaire when him and his wife rene russo and his son sean (bradley Nolte)they thought they get it made but at the science fair sean gets kidnapped... Read more
Published on April 9 2003 by Dan Walker
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