Plot: What’s it about?
Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) is a man of wealth, with a high social profile and a family that he loves above all else. So when his high profile lifestyle causes his family to be shattered, his mind is pushed to the edge and beyond. Mullen took his son Sean (Brawley Nolte) out to have some fun, but when his attention was diverted, a tragic plan unfolded. Sean was taken by some criminals in the crowd, which left his parents helpless on the scene. His abduction was well planned and executed, as no clues or evidence were found. As Tom and his wife Kate (Rene Russo) panic, an expert on abductions, a man named Hawkins (Delroy Lindo) arrives. The scenario is laid out for the parents, but Tom is unable to cope with his loss. When a ransom demands two million dollars, the father is all too willing to pay, even against the wishes of the authorities. But when the exchange is foiled, Tom is left to assume the worst about his son. Unable to sit and wait until his son is dead, Tom decides to make a bold move. He goes on television to address the kidnappers, then turns his attentions toward anyone within earshot. The two million dollars is no longer a ransom, instead it is a bounty on the heads of those behind the abduction. With the tension hitting all time highs, will this move prove to be brilliant, or just plan stupid?
I’ve held off buying Ransom on DVD, as the original disc from Touchstone was an all around loser. The transfer was non anamorphic and looked mediocre at best, while no supplements in the least were included. The laserdisc not only had a slew of bonus materials, but also an extended cut of the film itself, which ran longer by eighteen minutes. Now we have this Special Edition of Ransom, but Touchstone dropped the ball once again. No new transfer, no DTS soundtrack, and of course, no extended cut of the movie. A handful of extras do make this new version better than the old one, but fans shouldn’t let loose of those laserdiscs. The movie itself is a rare example of a formula picture that works, as the tension is thick and even when we know what lurks around the corner, the movie remains effective. Ron Howard (Splash, The Missing) supplies solid direction, but it is his cast, led by Mel Gibson, that makes Ransom work. Gibson is on his game, while costars Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, and Delroy Lindo are in fine form, not to mention a few terrific performances from those with smaller roles. Ransom is by no means a classic, but it beats the odds and works far better than it should. I’d recommend the movie itself without hesitation, but even this new Special Edition is tough to shell out the cash on.
These days, he is in the spotlight for his direction of the controversial The Passion of the Christ, which has risen to astronomical levels of performance. But Gibson is no stranger to financial success, as most of his films have been hits. In Ransom, he takes on a common role in his career, one of a normal man pushed beyond his limits. Gibson is skilled at walking the line, which is a demand for his performance here. He has to be normal and a likable person, but at the same time, under so much emotional stress, his mind starts to bend. The role is played out well and Gibson tows himself in at times, which was a smart move. If he worked the part too over the top, the dramatic side would be lost. But at the same time, he had to infuse some bold edge into the character, or else his bold gambles wouldn’t make sense. In the end, Gibson nails the part and leaves minimal room for complaints, a more than solid performance. Other films with Gibson include Mad Max, Conspiracy Theory, Braveheart, Signs, and The Patriot. The cast also includes Rene Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair, Lethal Weapon 4), Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Mission to Mars), and Lili Taylor (Casa de los Babys, Short Cuts).
Video: How does it look?
Ransom is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, but the transfer is not enhanced for widescreen television. As this is the second release of this film, you’d assume a new transfer would be created, but that isn’t the case. Instead, we have the same lackluster visual treatment as the original edition, which is bad news. I’ve seen worse, but this presentation is often soft and has a lot of edge enhancement, problems a new treatment could have erased. I found colors to be bright and natural, but contrast is a little inconsistent. The image is also often quite soft, which means detail is limited. A smoother, more refined visual presence could work wonders for this movie, but we’re left with this recycled transfer, which is a real shame.
Audio: How does it sound?
The visual transfer isn’t the sole element ported over from the previous disc, as the same Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is also included. I would have loved a new DTS option, but even so, this isn’t a bad presentation. The film provides ample action and tension, so the surrounds have a lot of work in order to keep up the pace. The track obliges and the audio is dynamic, even if not as remarkable as some more recent releases. But since it has all the needed power, we can’t worry about how it compares to other soundtracks. The dialogue never misses a beat either, as vocals are clean and free from distortion. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is where this new disc earns its stripes, but without a new visual treatment, all the extras don’t mean that much. Ron Howard’s audio commentary is the focal supplement, as he provides an active, engaging session. As usual, he is candid and reveals a lot about the process of brining a film to the screen. You’ll also find some deleted scenes, two behind the scenes specials, a reel of outtakes, and the film’s international trailer. The featurettes are decent, but lack the kind of depth I wanted to find. I was quite pleased to see the deleted scenes on this release, but I’d prefer the longer edition of the film itself.
