Hostage - Entführt

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)

I went to see this movie last night for the only reason, it was a free premiere ticket, and I had not much else to do. I was therefore pleasantly surprised by the movie. Artistically and dialogue wise this movie is lacking, except for the first scene, but this is to be expected from a Bruce Willis film. As a an action/thriller the movie hits the mark. It is noir, gritty, violent, and similar to the director's, Florent Siri, style used for his 2002 film, "The Nest". Several very cool shots by the cinematographer, tie this movie together. This is a great movie to go watch on a Saturday night with friends. You will be thoroughly entertained by Willis, who is best suited for this type of role.

The film focuses a previous LA hostage negotiator (Bruce Willis) who subsequently a failed negotiation goes away to a little town along with his wife (Serena Scott Thomas) and daughter , Amanda, (Bruce Willis's daughter in the movie, was played by his daughter Rumer Willis , she wanted the part, but Willis made her audition like everyone else and she got the part) . Then , three punks (Jonathan Tucker, Ben Foster, Marshall Alltman) pull off a burgle from a rich man's house (an accountant Kevin Pollack) taking him as hostage along with his children (Michelle Horn and Jimmy Bennett). But the events go wrong and the negotiator's family is also kidnapped to force him to obtain an information at home with a high-tech security system .

The movie is plenty of thriller, violence , shootouts with stimulating and spectacular action set pieces ; including profanity , as the word "fuck" is used 89 times . Bruce Willis , as usual action hero , confronts perils and risks and he must battle till vanquish in this overly violent action film , his main enemy results to be a psychopathic young killer (an excessively nasty Ben Foster) . The picture gets similarity with ¨The nest¨ , previous film by the same director , cameraman (Giovanni Fiore) , musician (Alexandre Desplat) and technicians ; in fact , there is also a place surrounded by various perpetrators and a violent showdown in a locked location . As Bruce Willis as film producer hired to filmmaker Florent Siri for the successful former film . The flick will appeal to Bruce Willis fans and action movies enthusiast . Predictable but delivers the action required of the genre and is recommended for those who are just looking for exciting films . Rating : Better than average and well worth watching.

The TV spots basically make this movie look like Die Hard 4: In A House, but its not at all. first off, its a suspense movie with some action, not the other way around. Secondly, the main thrust of the movie isn't even hinted at in the TV spots that I've seen. All of the acting is very good, the villains especially considering their age, pull off their roles quite well. There's a scene where they face off with Willis and a chopper thats truly nail-biting, and it wouldn't work at all if they were bad actors.

So i recommend this movie even if you think it looks generic from the trailers. its got a lot of twists and surprises, tho not in an annoying M Night shamalamadingdong way. Please go see it in theaters, support our rare R rated films while enjoying a good movie in the process!!

I went into this movie with moderate expectations, but was very impressed with how good it was. Thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, Hostage offered some great action, drama, emotion and most of all some fantastic acting, mainly by Bruce Willis and Ben Foster. I have not always enjoyed Willis' movies, but this one was reminiscent of some of his better roles, ie. Die Hard and Sixth Sense.

I have read some of the media's reviews of this film and some have been unjustifiable harsh. Were they watching the same movie? Once again, I am glad that I did not listen to the critics because I would have missed this movie. If you are in the mood for a tense, gritty thriller with believable and emotional characters, Hostage will not disappoint. I give it 8.5/10.