Writer: David Guggenheim (Screenplay)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Josh Lucas, Danny Huston, Malin Akerman, Sami Gayle, Edrick Browne, Mark Valley
Plot: In New Orleans, the notorious bank thief and family man Will Montgomery steals $10m with his partners Vincent, Riley Jeffers and Hoyt. However, he has an argument with Vincent in the runaway and Hoyt leaves Will behind. He tries to flee but the FBI agent Tim Harlend organizes a manhunt and Will is captured, but he burns the stolen money to get rid of the evidences against him. Eight years later, Will leaves the prison and he goes to the house of his teenage daughter Alison Loeb, who has issues against him. Alison leaves Will alone in a coffee shop and takes a cab to go to a session with her shrink. However, a couple of minutes later, Will receives a phone call from Vincent, who is presumed dead, telling that he has abducted Alison and will kill her unless he receives the $10m of the last robbery. Now Will has twelve hours to find a way to rescue his daughter from the hands of the psychopath Vincent.
Verdict: Easy Thrills
Story: How often have we seen a bank robbing team spilt up with one turning on the rest when a job goes bad? It’s easy to create the basic tension between the characters, you add in the resilient cop and we get the basic three way battle, all out to outsmart each other. Having the kidnapped daughter involved makes the villain of the piece look even more villainous. Sounds basic and it is, don’t expect any massive twists or turns just enjoy the story unfolding. (7/10)
Actor Review
Nicolas Cage: Will the mastermind of the bank robbers who gets caught, fresh out of prison he wants to live a normal life but his old partner has other plans for him. Good performance from Cage, do what he needs to do without really excelling. (7/10)
Josh Lucas: Vincent the twisted former partner of Will who has been through some hard times and even faked his own death biding his time until he can get his money from Will. Good villainous role that does enough to make himself worse than just an old friend out for revenge. (8/10)
Danny Huston: Tim the FBI agent who has been tracking Will for years putting his own personal life at risk and just when he thinks he has him he loses out on catching him with the money. Typical FBI agent role, that uses his hat to try and making him look different. (7/10)
Malin Akerman: Riley a member of the robbery team that gets away and has turned her life around to become more honest. She helps Will when he needs to resources of his old life to save his daughter. Good supporting role. (6/10)
Sami Gayle: Alison Will’s daughter who resents him after his time away who gets kidnapped and tries to outsmart her kidnapper. Simple ‘Help’ performance that offers nothing new. (6/10)
Director Review: Simon West – Good direction to create a simple to watch thriller. (7/10)
Action: Few car chases that look good but not as much action as you would expect. (7/10)
Thriller: Good thriller that keeps you pulled in to see what will happen next. (8/10)
Settings: New Orleans makes for a good setting showing off the carnivals there. (8/10)
Suggestion: This is one for the thriller fans out there to enjoy, it could appeal to the more casual fans as well being easy to watch. (Thriller Fans Watch)
Best Part: Will’s robbery, just nonsense style.
Worst Part: Where did they get the information to be ready at the start?
Action Scene Of The Film: Will trying to escape the opening chase.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $2 Million
Budget: $35 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
Tagline: 12 Hours. $10 Million. 1 Kidnapped Daughter.
Overall: Enjoyable Thriller
Rating