Ransom

This would be a 10 episode prestige series today and much worse for it.

This movie works because the premise is simple, the cast is stacked - the bad guys are Gary Sinise, Liev Schreiber, Lily Taylor, and Mark Wahlberg - and he has the scenes where he jumps across the taxi hood and yells give me back my son.

Classic dad cinema.

Changes the usual hostage formula. Instead of simply trying to gather the money and get his son back, the dad uses the ransom as leverage against the kidnappers. Gibson & Sinise turn it into a gripping battle between two smart men trying to outmaneuver each other.

Incredible acting throughout this movie. It was so well written and the premise was very enticing. Love that we actually live through the dilemma of the victims family. I also like how we are shown both sides of the kidnapping as well. Great hooking movie overall.

8.7/10

I like the broadcast angle he takes. Definitely a twisting thriller with a lot of factors. But the subject matter isn’t very re-watchable.