Ransom (1996)

[7]

Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon) directs this crime thriller about a wealthy businessman (Mel Gibson) whose young son is kidnapped and held for ransom. With the boy’s life hanging in the balance, Gibson must decide whether to take the FBI’s advice or go with his gut on the best way to see his son alive again.

Ransom moves briskly and offers a few surprising twists and turns. It has a strong final act and features terrific performances from Gibson and co-star Gary Sinise, who plays a cop seemingly trying to help the family. Renee Russo and Delroy Lindo are also along for the ride, but have few opportunities to shine. Other than the tight screenplay, the real star is director Ron Howard, who once again demonstrates his ever-impressive aptitude in a wide variety of genres. This is his first crime drama thriller. While it features the visceral thrills and chills you might expect from such a piece, Howard also anchors it in the distraught parents’ point of view. The result is a film that’s not just a page-turner, but an emotionally experiential one at that.

With Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber, and Brawley Nolte, son of actor Nick Nolte, as the abducted child.