Ransom (1996)

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Cyril Hume (story), Richard Maibaum (story),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Brawley Nolte

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Tom Mullen
Rene Russo	...	Kate Mullen
Brawley Nolte	...	Sean Mullen
Gary Sinise	...	Det. Jimmy Shaker
Delroy Lindo	...	Agent Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor	...	Maris Conner
Liev Schreiber	...	Clark Barnes
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Cubby Barnes
Evan Handler	...	Miles Roberts
Nancy Ticotin	...	Agent Kimba Welch
Michael Gaston	...	Agent Jack Sickler
Kevin Neil McCready	...	Agent Paul Rhodes
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Wallace
Allen Bernstein	...	Bob Stone
José Zúñiga	...	David Torres (as Jose Zuniga)

Storyline

Tom Mullen is a millionaire, he built his fortune by working hard. Along the way he learned how to play the game. He has a great family. One day his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the ransom but decides to call in the FBI, who manages to go into his home secretly. When he goes to make the drop something goes wrong. The kidnapper calls him again and reschedules it. On the way Mullen decides not to go and appears on TV saying that the ransom he was going to give to the kidnapper is now a bounty on the kidnapper.

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Plot Keywords:

ransom | bounty | money | fbi | police | 

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Taglines:

Someone is going to pay.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic, bloody violence and strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kopfgeld

Filming Locations:

Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 6,942,377,000 (Italy) (31 January 1997)

Gross:

$136,448,821 (USA) (11 April 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 139 min (special edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (DuArt) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the science fair scene, when Rene Russo's character asks which school is this, they reply P.S. 41. This is an actual school which provided some of the science fair props for the scene.

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Goofs

When Tom returns in his penthouse after the failed transfer of the ransom money, he hugs his wife. In 2 shots (alternated with Hawkins talking) Tom has his left AND right arm on his wife's back. The next shot (when you hear the other FBI-agent say "this is no high-tech mastermind") Tom has his left arm UNDER his wife's scarf. Next shot Tom's left arm is on the outside again.

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Quotes

Detective Jimmy Shaker: Look me in the eye and tell me.

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Crazy Credits

The opening Touchstone Pictures logo is in black and white.

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Connections

Spoofed in South Park: The Passion of the Jew (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Squirrels"
Written, Produced, and Performed by Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan appears courtesy Virgin Records USA

User Reviews

Someone will pay 4.25$ to watch it and won't be deceived...

Buy it instead of renting it. This movie is like a drug:when you watch it, you cannot stop. It is an intense thriller with an incredibly brilliant performance from Mel Gibson. There are not too much bad guys but we got the time to know them, and that is a good thing. There is lots of blood but no free violence. No big guns, no macho commandos and anything bad. It is simple but well written and well acted so the movie is a must-see! I give it 89%.