AnhartLinkin
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Abbigail Bush
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Logan Dodd
There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.
harryumitchell
Like this one. Always have. Always will.Gibson. Lindo. Russo. Great supporting cast. It's not as good as a few other kidnap trillers, like say, Prisoners, but it's a very entertaining film.
TheLittleSongbird
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
latashalorenzo
I've seen this film more times than I could honestly count. The movie is soooo good and the best part of the entire film is Gary Sinise!! I truly love this man and all that he does for our Veterans. Hes an awesome guitar player, and his beautiful hazel eyes and that slightly thick wavy hair is unbelievably sexy too me. Mel Gibson is a good actor as well and have nice eyes oh and yes he did do well in this film. My main reason for the 9 stars is the plot of the film and GS role of course. I only wish that he and I was not married and was able to meet each other so I could do a lot of dirty sweet things to him. I love my husband and I no GS feels the same for his wife, but hay....nothing wrong with wishful thinking. Oh and also another reason 9 stars given was because my oh so sweet GS dies at the end!! I love U GS, I truly do. If only... Truly NC sweetie.
sol1218
***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!
