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Ransom (1996)

Director:
Ron Howard

COUNTRY
USA

Genre
Thriller

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Ransom

RUNNING TIME
116 minutes

Producers:
Scott Rudin
Brian Grazier
B. Kipling Hagopian
Screenwriter:
Richard Price
Alexander Ignon

Based on a story by:
Cyril Hume
Richard Maibaum


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Tom Mullen Mel Gibson ½
Kate Mullen Rene Russo ½
Jimmy Shaker Gary Sinise ½
Agent Lonnie Hawkins Delroy Lindo ½
Maris Conner Lili Taylor -
Sean Mullen Brawley Nolte -
Jackie Brown Dan Hedaya -

 

Review

Ron Howard's Ransom sees Mel Gibson leave his faux Scottishness behind and return to the American continent for this clever thriller. 'Cause Ransom actually is just a little bit more intelligent and well-written than your average film in this genre. The villain isn't all that one-dimensional, and the hero isn't all that "one-man-army" as one may fear. Still, it doesn't quite work. Howard thinks he's directing a thriller, but the suspense isn't there. Gary Sinise, although well-cast as the villain, is uncovered and unmasked too soon. And the format is too tepid and lacks edge. Fair acting by the cast underlines this film's mediocrity.

Copyright © 11.11.1997 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
(English version: © 21.10.2020 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang)