Hostages

I was totally riveted to this film from start to finish. In order for the film to work the performances have to be excellent and they are. Even the actors playing minor characters are compelling. Particularly great are Jay O. Sanders and Ciaran Hinds. Also Kathy Bates, Colin Firth, and Harry Dean Stanton turn in winning performances.

While the film may be to a certain extent fictionalized, it does give a very powerful portrayal of the experiences of the hostages, and what they were put through. One particular sequence that is chilling is the recreation of the videos featuring Terry Anderson that were sent to the International News Media.

The film also makes you more aware of how international politics works and how scary our own and other government bureaucracies can be.

I bought the video for less than five bucks at a liquidators store. I wanted the video for one of my favorite actors, Rolf Saxon. HE has a minor part and only two scenes. But in between them, the film is filled with solid performances by Kathy Bates, Natasha Richardson, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, and Harry Dean Stanton. It can also be recommended for educational purposes to discuss the years when Iran and the U.S. were enemies. Besides the red tape, we learn the horror and the reasons for it. It can be a very deep movie. You almost feel sympathy for their captors too. We know that they were not all evil entirely. THey had their reasons too. While the treatment was cruel and harsh, the hostage crisis was forced to pay the world's attention to the other Israeli-held hostages!

I was not familiar with any of the male actors in this movie when I happened upon it on cable. I fell in love with both Colin Firth and Ciaran Hinds who are both excellent in this. It's a difficult story but an important one historically, telling the tale of the Iran hostages and the political situation surrounding their capture and eventual release. The movie does not condemn the kidnappers, but instead illustrates what the powerless do to become the powerful. It's tragic, but true.

Kathy Bates has a small role, but was the biggest star in the film -- then!

I next saw Colin in Valmont and Ciaran Hinds in Circle of Friends. Colin ran off to have a baby with Meg Tilly but, thankfully, returned to acting soon. Such a wonderful talent! See all of these films if you can. Also, see Colin in The Advocate. What a great film. It's grand that Colin is finally getting the attention he deserves.

"Hostages", a docudrama about five Western civilians (including Terry Anderson, the longest held captive at seven years) taken hostage in Lebanon in the 1980's, does not wallow in pity, angst, and woe and resists the temptation to become an action flick or take sides against Islamic militants. Rather, the film does a good job of telling the story of men bound together in captivity by the need for human interaction while their families fight futile battles with government officials at home. Good for a made-for-tv flick, "Hostages" includes real file footage which speaks volumes and offers good commentary on the plight of hostages, their needs and those of their families. Should be of special interest to those who followed the news story in real time.

This film helped me understand what went on during this crisis. I recommend it to anyone wanting to gain insight into the event as well as reading the books that have been written about this ordeal. I thought the actors portrayed the actual hostages with a strong desire to get it right. Excellent job by Colin Firth and company!