From: Reviews and Criticism of Vietnam War Theatrical and Television Dramas (http://www.lasalle.edu/library/vietnam/FilmIndex/home.htm) compiled by John K. McAskill, La Salle University ([email protected])

R2570 RANSOM (USA, 1996) (Other titles: Kopfgeld; La rancon)

Credits: director, Ron Howard ; writers, Richard Price, Alexander Ignon. Cast: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinese, Delroy Lindo. Summary: Action/thriller set in contemporary New York City. Tom Mullen (Gibson) is a Vietnam veteran fighter pilot who has built a successful airline from scratch but is now under investigation for bribing union official. He lives with his wife (Russo) on Central Park, where they take their young son (Nolte) to a science fair. The boy is kidnapped, a ransom note arrives by anonymous e-mail, and the FBI is called even though, as Mullen observes, “The FBI just spent three months trying to bury us.” The kidnappers are masterminded by a crooked police detective (Sinise), and include his girlfriend (Taylor), who once worked for the Mullens and knows the family’s routine. Other members include a computer whiz and a couple of lowlife thugs. The FBI kidnapping expert (Lindo) wants Gibson to pay the ransom. He tries to, but an FBI helicopter interrupts the ransom drop, and Gibson becomes convinced (by the look in a gang member’s eyes) that the kidnappers have no plans to return the child alive. That’s when he devises his daring plan, which horrifies his wife and angers the FBI, to use the money as a reward for information instead of a ransom.

Anderson, John. “Insight from writer of the ‘Ransom’ note” Los Angeles times (Nov 12, 1996), Calendar, p. F10+ Ansen, David. “Money for nothing” Newsweek 128/20 (Nov 11, 1996), p. 74. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Arnold, Gary. “ ‘Ransom’ pays off in thrills” Washington times (Nov 8, 1996), p. C15. Beifuss, John. “Packaged thrills; Mel Gibson hunts down his son’s kidnappers” Commercial appeal [Memphis, TN] (Nov 9, 1996), p. 1C. Berczes, Laszlo. “Valtsagdij” Filmvilag 40/1 (1997), p. 59. Berman, Avis. “In the script: The art says ‘They’re rich’” New York times (Nov 3,1996), sec. 2, p. 43+ Bernard, Jami. “Kidnap thriller ‘Ransom’ really pays off; Gibson & Howard know how to meet the demands of slick suspenser” Daily news [New York, NY] (Nov 8, 1996), p. 47. Birnie, Peter. “Mel Gibson takes no hostages; Oscar winner Gibson is the glue that holds this altogether too slick thriller together” Vancouver sun (Nov 8, 1996), p. C1. Black, Jill. “Ransom” Interview 26/11 (Nov 1996), p. 64+ Brennan, Judy. “$35 million paid for ‘Ransom’s’ weekend” Los Angeles times (Nov 11, 1996), Calendar, p. F1+ Buehrer, Beverly Bare. “Ransom” Magill’s cinema annual Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Salem Press, 1982- (1997, p. 451-3) Byrge, Duane. “Ransom” Hollywood reporter (Nov 4, 1996), p. ? Carr, Jay. “Howard’s ‘Ransom’ pays off” Boston globe (Nov 8, 1996), p. C1. Cels, Roger. “ ‘Ransom’ demands a fortune” Hollywood reporter (Nov 8, 1996), p. ? Clark, Mike. “Gary Sinise seizes the show” USA today (Nov 8, 1996), p. D1+ Denby, David. “Capitalist tool” New York 29/44 (Nov 11, 1996), p. 76-77. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Dufour, Dirk. “Ransom” Film en televisie + video no. 469 (Feb 1997), p. 31. Dutka, Elaine. “Getting a grip on ‘Ransom’s’ little gaffe” Los Angeles times (Nov 14, 1996), Calendar, p. F10+. ______. “ ‘Ransom’ higher than expected” Los Angeles times (Nov12, 1996), Calendar, p. F9. “The end” Segnocinema no. 84 (Mar/Apr 1997), p. 67. Fadda, Michele. “Ransom” Cineforum 37/361 (Jan/Feb 1997), p. 84-5. Godo, Mikael. “Toffe forhandlinger” Film & Kino no. 7-8 (Dec 1996), p. 34-5. Gerstel, Judy. “Kidnap thriller full of surprises” Toronto star (Nov 8, 1996), p. D1. Guthmann, Edward. “ ‘Ransom’ pays high price for cheap violence” San Francisco chronicle (Mov 8, 1996), p. C1. Hartl, John. “Howard liked plot twists in ‘Ransom’ remake” Seattle times (Nov 8, 1996), Movietimes, p. G5. Haskell, Molly. “Lookalike dudes descending a staircase” Film comment 33 (Jan/Feb 1997), p. 82-3. Haun, Harry. “Ransom” Film journal 99 (Dec 1996), p. 90. Howe, Desson. “Refuse to pay this ‘Ransom’” Washington post (Nov 8, 1996), Weekend, p. WW42. Hruska, Bronwen. “ ‘Ransom’ proves an ordeal for Gibson and co-stars” The record Bergen County, NJ] (Nov 3, 1996), p. Y03. Joyard, Olivier. “La rancon” Cahiers du cinema no. 510 (Feb 1997), p. 79. Kauffmann, Stanley. “On films; Cracking credibility” New republic 215 (Dec 9, 1996), p. 26-7. Kelly, Brendan. “Kidnapped: Mel Gibson is a flawed father in ‘Ransom,’ Ron Howard’s darkest edgiest film ever” The gazette [Montreal] (Nov 8, 1996), p. D1. Kempley, Rita. “ ‘Ransom’: One for your money” Washington post (Nov 8, 1996), p. D1+ Kendall, Lukas. “Lukas attacks!” Film score monthly no. 76 (Dec 1996), p. 21-23. Kimmel, Daniel M. “Few high notes in ‘Ransom’” Telegram & gazette [Worcester, MA] (Nov 8, 1996), p. C4. King, Dennis. “Mel’s mad; Howard’s ‘Ransom” a thrill a minute” Tulsa world (Nov 8, 1996), p. 11. Klady, Leonard. “ ‘Ransom’ returns the B.O. punch” Variety 365 (Nov 18-24, 1996), p. 16. Kolodynski, Andrzej. “Przekraczanie granicy” Kino 31 (Jan 1997), p. 39. Lane, Anthony. “Money for nothing” New Yorker 72/34 (Nov 11, 1996), p. 124-27. Larsen, Dave. “Ransom” Dayton daily news (Nov 8, 1996), Go!, p. 4. Lebouc, Georges. “La rancon” Grand angle no. 201 (Feb 1997), p. [39-40] Maslin, Janet. “Vigilante dad vs. kidnappers” New York times (Nov 8, 1996), p. C1. Mathews, Jack. [Ransom] Newsday (Nov 8, 1996), pt. 2, p. B2. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] McCarthy, Todd. “Take-no-prisoners ‘Ransom’ pays off” Variety 365 (Nov 4-10, 1996), p. 81+ McClellan, Kirstie. “Movie moments; Director says Mel Gibson was perfect casting” Calgary herald (Nov 8, 1996), p. C1. McGoogan, Ken. “Ransom: It’s every parent’s worst nightmare; It’s also a crackling good film” Calgary herald (Nov 8, 1996), p. C1. Medved, Michael. [Ransom] New York post (Nov 8, 1996), p. 49. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Menarini, Roy. “Ransom – il riscatto” Segnocinema no. 84 (Mar/Apr 1997), p. 58-9. Millar, Jeff. “ ‘Ransom’ offers riveting storytelling” Houston chronicle (Nov 8, 1996), Weekend preview, p. 1. Morgenstern, Joe. “Film: Children lost and found” Wall Street journal (Nov 8, 1996), p. A17. Movshovitz, Howie. “Restrained directing job serves tense ‘Ransom’ well” Denver post (Nov 8, 1996), p. F-01. Neman, Daniel. “Plot idea makes ‘Ransom’ pay off; Movie is slick but lacks heart” Richmond times-dispatch (Nov 8, 1996), p. C-3. Nichols, Peter M. “Bugs and Michael work the fast break; Ransom” New York times (Nov 17, 1996), sec. 2, p. 29+ O’Connor, Anne Marie. “The beef” Mademoiselle 102/11 (Nov 1996), p. 107. Parker, Heidi. “Ransom” Seventeen 55/11 (Nov 1996), p. 108. Poggi, Evelina. “Ransom – il riscatto” Film [Italy] 5/27 (1997), p. 10-11. Puig, Claudia. “Warning: Parental advisory” Los Angeles times (Nov 11, 1996), Calendar, p. F1+ Rainer, Peter. “Oh, keep the kid; Save your money: ‘Ransom’ strikes the wrong note” New times Los Angeles (Nov 7, 1996), p. ? “Ransom” Film review annual 1997 Englewood, N.J. : J.S. Ozer, 1981- (p. 1201-8) Riley, Phil. “Ransom” Motion picture guide annual (edited by Jay Robert Nash and Stanley Ralph Ross) Chicago : Cinebooks, 1987-2000. (1997, p. 309) Ringel, Eleanor. “Movies; Review; ‘Ransom’” Atlanta journal and constitution (Nov 8, 1996), p. ? Rouyer, Philippe. “La rancon” Positif no. 433 (Mar 1997), p. 52. Rozen, Leah. “Ransom” People weekly 46/21 (Nov 18, 1996), p. 20. Schickel, Richard. “Business as usual” Time 148/22 (Nov 11, 1996), p. 86. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Schuelke, Claudia. “Kopfgeld” EPD Film 14 (Jan 1997), p. 36. Simons, Roger. “The sound of music” Grand angle no. 202 (Mar 1997), p. [59-60] Slavin, Glenn. “A king’s ‘Ransom’” Film journal 99 (Nov 1996), p. 10+ [3 p.] “Soundtrack” Filmbulletin 39/2 [211] (1997), p. 8-9. Stackpole, John and Stedman, Rus. “Ransom” Audience no. 193 (Feb/Mar 1997), p. 26-7. Stedman, Rus (see under Stackpole, John) Sterritt, David. “Child kidnapping tales trace class hostility” Christian Science monitor (Nov 18, 1996), p. 14+ [5 p.] Stone, Jay. “ ‘Ransom’ pays off in Hollywood style: Ron Howard works his magic on tried-and-true formula that guarantees suspenseful ride” Ottawa citizen (Nov 8, 1996), p. E1. Turan, Kenneth. “A brave heart or a bad idea?” Los Angeles times (Nov 8, 1996), Calendar, p. F1+ [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Uricchio, Marylynn. “Unhappy days; Ron Howard fuels paranoia with the gripping ‘Ransom’” Pittsburgh post-gazette (Nov 8, 1996), p. 5. Vigoda, Arlene. “ ‘Ransom’ pays off big” USA today (Nov 12, 1996), p. 1D. Vincz, Jason. “Missing persons” Village voice 41/47 (Nov 19, 1996), Film special, p. VF20. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Wilmington, Michael. [Ransom] Chicago tribune (Nov 8, 1996), Friday, p. A. Wirt, John. “ ‘Ransom’ demands moviegoers overlook weak story” The advocate [Baton Rouge, LA] (Nov 15, 1996), p. 17. Wloszczyna, Susan. “Roguish star reaps a king’s ‘Ransom’” USA today (Nov 8, 1996), p. D1+ Wrathall, John. “Ransom” Sight & sound 7 (Feb 1997), p. 54-5. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1997] Zimm, Angela. “Dissed by Disney, union wants out of ‘Ransom’” The daily record (Dec. 26, 1996), p. A1. c2005 J.K.M. Enterprises