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Movie Review - Hostage (2005)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Emilio Siri |
| Starring: |
Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Jonathan Tucker, and Ben Foster |
| Rated: |
R (due to graphic violence, language, and some drug use) |
| Length: |
102 minutes |
| Genre: |
Action/Thriller |
| Tagline: |
Would you sacrifice another family to save your own? |
| Studio: |
Miramax |
| Website: |
Hostage |
| Release: |
March 11, 2005 |
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PLOT
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Jeff Talley (Willis) is a former LAPD hostage negotiator who left town after a hostage negotiation gone wrong.
Currently the police chief of a small, upscale suburb, Talley's quiet life is shaken up a bit when two brothers
and an accomplice take a family hostage after their failed robbery attempt. To make matters worse, there is
something in the house that is very valuable to an unseen bad guy. When he sees Talley on the news talking about
the hostage situation, the unseen bad guy decides to use him to get what he needs. His way of insuring Talley's
help? Kidnap his wife and daughter.
How can Talley get this white collar criminal what he wants without jeopardizing his own family or the family
that is being held hostage? Will he have to sacrifice one for the other? One of the most intense thrillers
to come along in a while ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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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.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Based on the novel by Robert Crais.
- Siri directed the video games Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
- Ben Foster played Eli, the retarded boy on Freaks & Geeks. Talk about two characters being completely
opposite.
- You may remember Jonathan Tucker as the curly dude with glasses in the remake of The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre.
- Bruce's real-life daughter, Rumer, plays his daughter in the movie. She has a very square jaw.
- Johnny Betts has never been held hostage. Unless you count the time he and his friend were locked in the
storage room of an abandoned house by some undetermined neighborhood bullies.
- Bruce Willis was in The Whole Nine Yards with Amanda Peet who is in Melinda and Melinda with
Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Hostage is a little rough around the ages. Profanity isn't overly extreme, but there are a few f-bombs
dropped. There's no sex or nudity, but some of the violence may be a little rough for the younger and more
sensitive viewers. Mama would love this movie in an edited-for-TV version. This is best for those who are old
enough to drive.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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Intense, exciting trailer + intense, exciting movie = no lose situation. The trailer also does a great job of
not giving away too much. This is the way to make a trailer.
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THE GIST
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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.
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