Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Richard Price, Alexander Ignon (Screenplay) Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum (Story)
Starring: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Brawley Nolte, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor, Live Schreiber, Donnie Wahlberg
Plot: Tom Mullen is a millionaire; he built his fortune by working hard. Along the way he learned how to play the game. He has a great family. One day his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the ransom but decides to call in the FBI, who manages to go into his home secretly. When he goes to make the drop something goes wrong. The kidnapper calls him again and reschedules it. On the way Mullen decides not to go and appears on TV saying that the ransom he was going to give to the kidnapper is now a bounty on the kidnapper.
Verdict: Where are you limits?
Story: Ransom starts out as a simple kidnapping with a ransom wanted turns into a thriller unlike anything we have seen before. We see how one man will risk his own son’s life to get the people responsible for kidnapping his son. Our hero goes against every he is told to get his son back, but is he really after some redemption after his errors have caught up with him? The villain comes off very calm but even he isn’t ready for the reaction from the hero. This keeps you guessing what the next step will be from both sides as well as test the relationship between a married couple with the effects of the kidnapping. (8/10)
Actor Review
Mel Gibson: Tom Mullen a multi-millionaire whose son is kidnapped, while he starts following the instructions he figures out that there is no plan for him to get his son returned, so he goes to extreme levels to out play the kidnappers. Good performance from Gibson showing great intensity against the kidnappers. (8/10)
Rene Russo: Kate Mullen Tom’s wife who wants to do everything by the book and gets very upset when Tom starts going his own way with the plan. Solid supporting performance. (7/10)
Gary Sinise: Detective Jimmy Shaker the man with the plan that has arranged the kidnap and the exchange to work perfectly. He has back up plans for when things go wrong too. He is very twisted and determined to get his money and will do anything to make sure he gets what he wants. Good performance creating a good villain that not quit. (8/10)
Delroy Lindo: Agent Lonnie Hawkins the man called in with his team to help with return of the son. He advises Tom and how to handle each part and tries to change his mind when Tom wants to go his own way. Good performance showing that it has to be done a certain way. (7/10)
Director Review: Ron Howard – Good direction taking the thrills to a new level for a story that usually comes off very simple. (9/10)
Crime: Ransom is a great test for all law enforcements handling a kidnapping case. (9/10)
Thriller: Ransom uses great thriller aspects that will get keep you guessing. (10/10)
Settings: Each setting used in Ransom works for the next chapter of the story, especially when Tom gets sent to do the trade over. (8/10)
Suggestion: Ransom is one of the best action thrillers you will see, watch this even though Mel Gibson is not the most popular actor anymore. (Watch)
Best Part: The first attempted trade over journey.
Worst Part: Generic supporting villains.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Mel Gibson was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $309 Million
Budget: $80 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 1 Minute
Tagline: This Fall, Pay The Price.
Overall: Great Thriller A Must Watch
Rating 
