Ransom (1996)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Cyril Hume (story) and
Richard Maibaum (story) ...

Release Date:

8 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Someone is going to pay.

Plot:

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

Plot Keywords:

Ransom | Money | Police | Bounty | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Tom Mullen
Rene Russo	...	Kate Mullen
Brawley Nolte	...	Sean Mullen
Gary Sinise	...	Det. Jimmy Shaker
Delroy Lindo	...	Agent Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor	...	Maris Conner
Liev Schreiber	...	Clark Barnes
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Cubby Barnes
Evan Handler	...	Miles Roberts
Nancy Ticotin	...	Agent Kimba Welch
Michael Gaston	...	Agent Jack Sickler
Kevin Neil McCready	...	Agent Paul Rhodes
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Wallace
Allen Bernstein	...	Bob Stone
José Zúñiga	...	David Torres

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic, bloody violence and strong language.

Runtime:

121 min | USA:139 min (laserdisc)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1997) | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:VM14 | UK:15 (original rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 (w) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (certificate #34835) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

This film was based on an episode of "The United States Steel Hour" (1953) called "Fearful Decision" that first aired live on June 22, 1954. It was so well received it was restaged on May 10, 1955. A film was made from the drama called Ransom! (1956) that was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Tom has raised the reward to $4 million, there's an angry telephone conversation between Tom and Shaker. You can see Shaker's lips still move for a split second after the audio of him saying "Look at your wife" has stopped.

Quotes:

Detective Jimmy Shaker: You think you're suffering right now? Huh? You got no idea what suffering is.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "South Park: The Passion of the Jew (#8.3)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Rats

Good Thriller!

Good action thriller that actually gets better as the movie progresses.Good all around production and will satisfy most fans of this genre.Very good performance by Gibson.Could have been better if it had an even higher quality script.Not a typical average pop thriller.Has a good edge to it.Only for fans of the genre and for big fans of the lead actors......