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| Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 4
| If he doesn't watch out, Mel Gibson is in danger of being known as someone other than Mad Max. Of course there are still a few big guns in this film, but there's some accomplished acting too. Although Gibson continues to shed his rough and gritty anti-hero skin as his career progresses, here he explores a new genre: the businessman as action hero.
In Ron Howard's latest film, Gibson plays Tom Mullen, a gazillionaire airline owner whose son is snatched from the junior science fair by kidnappers. Mullen at first agrees to pay the ransom, but when things fall apart he rethinks the situation. A veteran of numerous hard-nosed business negotiations, the tycoon realizes that in order to get his son back alive, he has to play his hand differently.
The casting is what puts this film over the top. The trio of Gibson, the kidnappers' mastermind (Gary Sinise) and FBI team leader (Delroy Lindo) play off of each other wonderfully. Sinise is perfect as the driven scheming sleezebag is right on the mark. His speech to Mullen over a walkie talkie about H. G. Wells' Morlocks and Eloi reveal his vision of=
society. Mullen and the other glitteratti frolic up on high while Sinise and the other lowlifes dwell below, feeding off the unsuspecting.
Gibson's character is an all-American hero with a few flaws. His cowboy tactics tend to work, but they are also what got him into this situation to begin with. In a round about way, if he weren't known as a man who i= s willing to buy his way out of trouble, his son wouldn't have been kidnapped. As Sinise says "You're a payer. You did it once and now you're going to do it again.
One of the nicest elements of this film is that most of the characters actually have personalities. Lindo calls home to talk to his kids, obviously shaken at working this case. Even the kidnappers are real people, arguing about the ultimate fate of Sean Mullen and feeding him candy bars.
Gibson's break-down on the balcony of their penthouse apartment is especially effective. It's one of the best filmed representations of a man's world falling apart that I've seen.
It's not all perfect. The shoot 'em upending, while emotionally satisfying seems tacked on to be just that rather than to provide a powerful resolution. As well crafted as the scene is, we've seen it before. Mullen's wife (Rene Russo) has several good moments, but occasionally just seems to be there. While adequate, Brawley Nolte (Sean) doesn't provide much to the film other than occupying space to build the story around.
But you'll ignore these problems as each minute of the movie builds on the previous one. Forget about the large coke, you won't want to leave for that five minute break an hour later.
By : Michael Redman
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| | Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 3
| Ron Howard teams up with Mel Gibson in what should be a fun packed, action thriller. However, there is one word that really describes what this film is like. And that word is 'Average'
This has to be one of the most 'ok' films I have ever seen. The plot is about Mel Gibson trying to get his son back after he is kidnapped by a group headed by a policeman (Sinese). However, halfway through the film, instead of Gibson paying the ransom, he decides to make it a 'reward' to the first person who brings the kidnapper to him, dead or alive.
Rene Russos part, as Gibsons wife, is underwritten, and hardly does anything in this movie at all. However, the best role in the movie has to Sinese. He has a real evil quality about him, and makes a very good bad guy
Another major problem with the film is that it is terribly overlong. The film goes on for 1/2 hour longer than it should. You're glad when it finally ends, which is a bad sign for a thriller.
Overall, I was disappointed with this film. It's like Ron Howard had nothing better to do, and made this to make some quick money. With a bit more development, this could of been one of the best thrillers of the year. However, it turns out to be merely average.
By : David Wilcock
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