Hostage (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Florent Emilio Siri

Writers (WGA):

Robert Crais (novel)
Doug Richardson (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Every Second Counts

Plot:

A failed police negotiator turned small town cop, must save the lives of a family held hostage, which draws him into a much more dangerous situation.

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Negotiator | Police | Los Angeles | Lapd

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Jeff Talley
Kevin Pollak	...	Walter Smith
Jimmy Bennett	...	Tommy Smith
Michelle Horn	...	Jennifer Smith
Ben Foster	...	Mars Krupcheck
Jonathan Tucker	...	Dennis Kelly
Marshall Allman	...	Kevin Kelly
Serena Scott Thomas	...	Jane Talley
Rumer Willis	...	Amanda Talley
Kim Coates	...	The Watchman
Robert Knepper	...	Wil Bechler
Tina Lifford	...	Laura Shoemaker
Ransford Doherty	...	Mike Anders
Marjean Holden	...	Carol Flores
Michael D. Roberts	...	Ridley

Also Known As:

Hostage - Entführt (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | USA:R (certificate #40990) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M (TV rating) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/18 | Spain:18 | Germany:16 (f) | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Azusa Canyon Inn - Highway 39, Azusa, California, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Bruce Willis's daughter in the movie, Amanda, was played by his daughter Rumer Willis. Rumer wanted the part, but Willis made her audition like everyone else and she got the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: The watchman fastens the seat belt across Talley's chest (under his arms), but during the close-ups of the man in back restraining him, it appears to come over his left shoulder, not his chest.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Mack: I need to talk to that motherfucker! You hear me? I want to talk to that fucker right now! I want that motherfucker!

Movie Connections:

References The Fisher King (1991)

Soundtrack:

Outta Here

Introduce yourself early to the edge of your seat.

Tense. Engrossing. Gripping from start to finish. All words to describe a conversation with Johnny Betts. But they also adequately describe Bruce Willis' latest movie Hostage. The movie could also be referred to as Redemption because that's definitely what you'll see this as if you have been disappointed with Bruce's recent efforts.

However, I would recommend that you not go into the movie expecting a Die Hard clone. Hostage sacrifices heavy action and humor for a darker, more character-driven tale, and it works. THIS is how a thriller should be! Things start off on an intense note as we see a grizzled-looking Bruce Willis attempting to negotiate with a psycho who has locked himself and his family in their house. He's got a gun, and he's clearly not right in the head. I will not reveal what happens, but flash forward a year later and having burnt himself out in the negotiation business, Willis is now a police chief in a smaller town. You think he'll be called on to use his negotiation skills again? If you say "no" then please let me slap you upon the cheek.

The thrills only intensify from there once the trailer park trio takes Kevin Pollack's family hostage. I really like the fact that we have two sets of bad guys here. There are the white collar criminals who remain faceless, yet ruthless in their desire to get what they want. Then there are the blue collar boys who make a stupid mistake and get in way over their heads.

I also appreciate the fact that the blue collar bad boys aren't one-dimensional. Jonathan Tucker plays the older brother (Dennis Kelly), and he does a great job of making his character somewhat sympathetic. He's a small-time wannabe tough guy who gets himself in a very bad situation that only escalates as the movie progresses. As the situation worsens, we see that Dennis regrets what he's done. He obviously wants to be anywhere else at the moment. He's scared, but he continues to try to talk tough. He's reaping the consequences of falling in with the likes of Mars.

Mars, portrayed by the show-stealing Ben Foster, is a long-haired, black clothes-wearing troublemaker. His back story is completely a mystery at the beginning, but we deliberately begin to see that he may not be quite as sympathetic as the others. Is he pure evil? Cold-blooded? Misunderstood? Regretful? Revealing anything would be a disservice to your viewing enjoyment, so I'm not saying anymore except that the character is very well-developed.

I know it's only March, but other than Million Dollar Baby, Hostage is the best movie I've seen this year. If you want a fun, suspenseful night at the movies then ignore the critics whining and moaning about clichés and improbabilities and go check out Hostage. I love the irony in the fact that half of the negative reviews on Rottentomatoes complain about the clichés in the movie. Wow, at least THAT complaint isn't cliché or anything. Try a little originality yourself.

Some of these critics like to go to Wal-Mart before a movie like this and purchase the biggest, most industrial strength Nitpicker they can find. You didn't know that was an actual tool? Oh yes. They're owned by every single uptight critic who white-knuckle clenches his Movie Snobbery PhD degree at all action and thriller movies. Don't listen to 'em. Hostage is a movie for movie fans, not movie elitists.

THE GIST Are you in the mood for a dark, intense, edge-of-your seat thriller? Then Hostage will most certainly entertain. If you're the type of moviegoer who only knows how to complain about clichés and coincidences then I'm sure you'll do the same here. I recommend loosening up and enjoying life a little.

Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)