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Ransom is a kidnapping film that has many similarities in plot to the countless kidnapping films that came before it (including, most notably, the 1956 feature-length film of the same name). The film may not take a lot of risks, but just like Payback, another of Gibson's by-the-numbers crime thriller from the '90s, it does manage to pack a large amount of suspense and a number of surprising plot twists that'll keep you interested from start to finish.

Mel Gibson plays Tom Mullen, a multimillionaire airline owner and father to his kidnapped child, Sean (Brawley Nolte). Taking advice from his wife, Kate (Rene Russo), and the head of the kidnapping division in the FBI (Delroy Lindo), Tom first opts to pay the two million dollars immediately to the people responsible, but later changes his mind and goes on live TV to set his own ground rules. He offers the money as a reward to the first person that is able to turn the head kidnapper into the police and safely return his son home to him.

The tension that comes with Tom's attempt to outsmart the bad guys with his risky plan is what makes Ransom more intelligent and enjoyable than your usual kidnapping thriller. Screenwriters Richard Price and Alexander Ignon are the ones responsible for creating the plot twists and showing both sides to the dispute -- the kidnappers are three dimensional characters and just as interesting as the good guys -- and director Ron Howard manages to pace things very well. As things become more and more interesting, suspense arises and propels the story forward, and it becomes pretty easy to sympathise with Tom, Kate and Sean.

This is also helped by some very strong performances from the actors involved. Gibson, in particular, gives a commanding performance as the tough, sensitive head of the family (just study the look in his eyes when he first sees his son tied up in criminal headquarters -- fascinating). Russo (who first paired up with Gibson in Lethal Weapon 3) does more than hold her own as the wife and mother; Gary Sinise is admirably brutal as the crooked cop; and there are also some fine performances from Brawley Nolte, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber and Donnie Wahlberg in their supporting roles.
 
Overall, Ransom may be a simple concept, but it definitely works.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2010.