Otage

I had read Robert Crais's novel some years ago and remember enjoying the book as a good thriller. Now I know most adaptations of novels tend to not match the original in terms of overall quality. Thus I kept me expectations low. But even that wasn't enough. 'Hostage' is very disappointing. It's executed in the form of an uninteresting episode of 'CSI: Miami'. The background score is heavily intrusive and makes every single situation overtly dramatic. Add to that, the over the top performances by every single member of the cast who are mostly yelling and screaming. The director really made it into a 'Die-Hard' style action flick. It lacks the depth of the book. Willis is in his Die Hard mode, shouting at people and running around. Oh and there's also this irritating Jimmy Bennett who tries to be cute and screams. Michelle Horn is pretty but she's the clichéd whiny teen. Foster is unrecognizable but his character has no layer. Pollak doesn't do much to be proud of. Tucker overacts. Allman manages to keep the balance at times and does better than his co-stars. It's pity that a novel which would have made a fine thriller film has been wasted on a poor film due to over-the-top...everything. They didn't even follow the events of the novel properly resulting in plot holes and lack of development (thanks to Richardson's screenplay).

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 saw Hostage in a German Pressscreening and I was blown away. Visually stunning from the first second to the last. The director Florent Siri nails every frame. He kept me on the edge of the seat from beginning to the end.

In the last years Bruce Willis disappointed me. His last movies I found very lame. But here, he is back as the great Action dude, he is famous for. But Hostage is not another "die hard"-flick. It is different. With more Drama, much darker and less humor is Hostage one of the most adult (means grown up) Action Thriller I saw in Years.

The story is great. No cheap tricks, every second is well written, superb acted and directed. The same with the soundtrack and - as I said before - the visuals.

Hostage is a kind of violent Film noir in a MTV a like style. A real ride. I don't want to tell much about the story. Go and see!

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.