Liberty Stands Still (2002)

Liberty, the wife of a gun manufacturer, is held hostage at a hot dog stand by a sniper seeking revenge.

Director:

Kari Skogland

Writer:

Kari Skogland

Stars:

Tanya Allen, Hart Bochner, Fulvio Cecere

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tanya Allen	...	May
Hart Bochner	...	Hank Wilford
Fulvio Cecere	...	Burt McGovern
Gregory Calpakis	...	Vince (as Greg Calpakis)
Terry Chen	...	Officer Tom
Garvin Cross	...	CIA Henchman #1
Roger Cross	...	Officer Miller (as Roger R. Cross)
Martin Cummins	...	Russell Williams
Keith Dallas	...	Young Man
Linda Fiorentino	...	Liberty Wallace
Marrett Green	...	Gary P. Evans - Reporter #2
Darcy Laurie	...	Drunk Guy
David Lewis	...	Businessman
Robert Lewis	...	Fireman Frank
Brian Markinson	...	Rex Perry

Storyline

A gunman ties up an actor and locks him in his dressing room just before a performance. He also puts a bomb with a 90-minute timer next to the actor. Then, he goes to a room above an LA plaza and draws a bead on the actor's lover, international arms dealer, Liberty Wallace. Calling himself "Joe," he calls her cell phone, demonstrates that a rifle is pointed at her, and tells her to cuff herself to a hot-dog cart nearby (the cuffs are there). Over the next 90 minutes, the story unfolds: as a result of his daughter's death, he wants a public debate on the Second Amendment. As Liberty begins to bond with Joe on the phone, he gets some truths from her - and his revenge.

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Plot Keywords:

bomb | hostage | gunman | sniper | gun control | 

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Taglines:

In the game of life and death... you only lose once.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Country:

Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 2002 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Appel au meurtre

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Films, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, Pearl Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Joe's computer occasionally displays images of Liberty taken by a camera he has set up somewhere, presumably in his sniper's nest. But almost every shot from this camera is panning or tracking, and most are also obviously from a much lower angle than Joe's position. Some are actually looking up at Liberty from below.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Liberty Wallace: [on phone] I'm not wearing any underwear, and you going to be able to concentrate?
Russell Williams: Not if you're aren't here.
Liberty Wallace: [laughs] I'm on my way.

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Connections

Referenced in Angry Birds (2016)

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Soundtracks

Creatures
Performed by Carmen Rizzo
Written by Carmen Rizzo, Christina Calero, Ashley Slater and Joel Shearer
Published by Povi-Lu Music

User Reviews

Further proof not to automatically write off DTV movies

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

LSS is the latest in a long line of thrillers filmed in 'real-time',so that the viewer actually feels as though the plot is really spinning out right in front of them.It's an intriguing new technique and a pretty effective one.And it's not dented by the performances either.Wesley Snipes is good as the revenge-obsessed bereaved father who says he'll do what he is threatening to do and shows he is willing to stick by his word,as is Linda Fiorentino as the at-first bewildered hostage whose fear and frustration eventually boils over.

The story is full of twists and turns,and is played along nicely.The major flaw to the movie is just how implausible it partly is.It's hard to imagine shots being fired from a gun like that and public alertance of the police being so slow.

Other than that,this is well worth your time and money.***