|
Ransom-"Special
Edition"
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Bob Leibold |
| Genre: |
Thriller
|
| Video: |
Widescreen
(1.85:1) |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround Sound |
| Languages |
French Language
Track |
| Subtitles |
Spanish
|
| Length |
Approximately
122 min. |
| Rating |
R (Graphic
Bloody Violence and Strong Language) |
| Release Date |
March 23,
2004 |
| Studio |
Buena Vista
Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
Ron Howard,
the Director |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
What Would You Do? |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
In Bonus
Materials What Would You Do? Cast and Crew |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
International Theatrical
Trailer |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
4 scenes
in Bonus Materials |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Mel Gibson,
Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor Brawley Nolte,
|
| Written
By: |
Cyril Hume
and Richard Maibaum. |
| Produced
By: |
Scott Rudin,
Brian Grazer, B. Kipling Hagopian |
| Directed
By: |
Ron Howard
|
| Music:
|
James Horner
|
| The
Review: |
The owner
of a major airline Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) has his young son
(Brawley Nolte) kidnapped. He thinks it is a retaliation for
paying off an official in a labor negotiation and not himself
getting caught. Now we know that the executive doesn’t always
play by the rules. When the demands are met and the money is
delivered, the exchange goes bad. The executive no longer feels
that he can get his son back by following orders....his resulting
challenge to the kidnappers is the center of this story. This
movie has great moments and is well acted by Rene Russo as the
Executives wife, Gary Sinise as brains of the kidnappers, and
Delroy Lindo as the FBI family liaison. Lili Taylor plays one
of the kidnappers and also has a great performance. /// |
| Image
and Sound: |
The video
is presented in widescreen formatted for 16 x 9 screens. The
transfer was rich and color depth good. This is how I remembered
the theatrical release. The sound was also excellent with good
atmosphere. /// |
| The
Extras: |
What Would
You Do? is a clever Featurette Which begins asking that particular
question and then letting the participants, ... interviews with
the Director Ron Howard, the editor, cast and crew, about their
feelings relevant to the movie’s thesis. Other topics considered
are Would You Call the Authorities (Mel would in a minute),
Would You Pay?...you get the drift. Well worth watching for
the insights and backstory in the film’s creation and realization.
The Deleted Scenes are late minute trims since they are fully
realized....they also show why the knife is a good thing. The
Between the Takes are seven moments with the cast or crew just
like the title indicates....these are interesting I thought
because the humanity of the star came through honestly./// |
| Commentary:
|
Ron Howard
has been in show business most of his life. He has been lucky
enough to be involved with classic television and movies...think
Music Man...That class has rubbed off. He has class and insights...a
very dangerous combination for a director. This is a dangerous
movie. It will move you...his commentary takes us into his thinking
process and reveals some of his likes and foibles such as his
superstition of casting his wife in every movie he directs...he
has been doing it since high school when she helped him by filling
in different parts in his super eight productions. He also tells
us how the father of Brawley Nolte, who plays the Mullen’s kidnapped
son, worked with the boy and his acting. By the way Brawley’s
father is Nick Nolte and the lesson they worked on off-camera
s was crying in a scene. Good stuff. Well worth the extra time
spent...the movie audio track is at times virtually missing
so watch the movie first unencumbered, then watch the commentary
version./// |
| Final
Words: |
There are
some great moments in this movie with the interplay between
Mel and Rene as the scared witless parents, Delroy Lindo as
the FBI cop, and then even better moments when Mel goes off
on his tangent...against Gary Sinise....great pathos...these
are top actors at the top of their game. If this movie is a
favorite of yours then this disc is a great addition to the
collection. |
