Ransom (FILM REVIEW)

Poster for Ransom (1996), directed by renomated director Ron Howard.
(photo credits - Touchstone Pictures)

Director: Ron Howard. (known for directing Backdraft, The Paper, Apollo 13, EdTV, and many other movies).

Producers: Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin and Kit Hagopian.

Written by: Richard Price, Alexander Ignon (screenplay), Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum (story). 

Main Cast:
Mel Gibson ---- Tom Mullen
Rene Russo ---- Kate Mullen
Gary Sinise ---- Det. Jimmy Shaker
Brawley Nolte ---- Sean Mullen
Delroy Lindo ------- Agent Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor --------  Maris Conner
Liev Schrieber --- Clark Barnes
Donnie Wahlberg ---Cubby Barnes
Paul Guilfoyle ---- FBI Director Stan Wallace

In Ransom, Rene Russo is Kate Mullen and she suffers by the disappearance of their son.
(photo credits - Touchstone Pictures)

Release Date: November 8, 1996 (USA) / January 17, 1997 (Brazil)

Running Time: 121 min

Budget / Box Office: US$70 million / US$309.5 million (box office success)

Plot Summary: The movie begins when the multimillionaire Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) hosts a party in his NYC apartment along with his wife Kate (Rene Russo), Sean (Brawley Nolte) and some friends. At the same some kidnappers preparing the hostage in their lair.
Later, the Mullen family attend the Science fair in Central Park, where Kate is the judge. During this scene Tom's son Sean wanders away and although not shown, he is snatched and put in a white van. Tom and Kate quickly realize their son is missing and frantically begin to search for him. Then they realized that Sean was kidnapped by Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise, great in Apollo 13 and CSI: NY) and he demands a ransom US$2 million for the kid's return. 

Gary Sinise is Jimmy Shaker, one of his best roles in his career...!
(photo credits - Touchstone Pictures)

Despite Lonnie and Kate's advice, Tom, to everyone's astonishment, appears on the TV news and unexpectedly turns the tables on the kidnappers' leader, by offering his $2 million dollar ransom for his head. This step changes the kidnapper's plans, when Mr. Mullen said that Shaker won't pay the ransom. And soon the consequences happen... 

In one of the scenes, a note is made addressing Kate, with the stipulation that she appear at a renovated Church at 2am without her husband's knowledge. Kate goes, but is soon beaten by Jimmy, who has his face masked. Jimmy threatens to gut Sean unless his ransom demands are met, and leaves Kate shaken, along with Sean's shirt covered in blood stains.

Shaker later pays Tom a visit to claim the reward and leave the country before investigators discover his connection with Maris. Tom and Sean, however, recognize Shaker as the kidnapper, and Shaker realizes this. Though his initial plan is to kill everyone in the apartment, Tom persuades him to accompany him to the bank to gain the money and leave peacefully. On the way, however, Tom discreetly alerts Hawkins and the police and FBI converge on Tom and Shaker outside the bank. 

Kate Mullen (Rene Russo) after the rapture of Sean Mullen (Brawley Nolte).
(photo credits - Touchstone Pictures). 

As soon as Tom and Shaker exit the bank, two officers (who greeted Shaker and Tom before entering the bank) inform Shaker that he is going to be detained, causing Shaker to shoot them down before Tom knocks him to the ground after which a chase ensues in which Tom and Shaker grapple furiously before falling through a shop window, severely injuring both and impaling Shaker through the neck. Tom picks up a hidden pistol (that Shaker pulled out during the scuffle) and points at Shaker before Hawkins and other police officers keep demanding that he drop the gun and walk away. 

In desperation, Shaker draws another hidden gun but is shot dead by Tom and Hawkins, leaving the villain with lots of blood (like Robert De Niro, in Taxi Driver). Tom finally drops the gun and police rush in to arrest Tom, but Hawkins tells them to hold allowing Tom and Kate to leave the scene.

Fun Facts about The Movie:

• It's the second movie Mel Gibson and Rene Russo work together; they also work together in Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) and later, in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).
• There are two CSI actors working in this movie: Paul Gulifoyle, from CSI: Las Vegas (2000-2015) and Gary Sinise, from CSI: NY (2004-2013).
• It's also Donnie Wahlberg's debut in cinema, he is known for singing in the boy band New Kids on The Block.
• And also the second movie Rene Russo and Delroy Lindo work together; they worked previously on Get Shorty (1995).

Critical Reception:

• Rotten Tomatoes: 75% (fresh; 69 reviews).
• CinemaScore: A- (A+ to F)
• IMDB: 6,6/10
• Roger Ebert (critic): 3,5/4

Hope u enjoy it.

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ME