Hostage (2005)
Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollack

I saw Hostage and loved it. You often get the feeling that violence is a gratuitous afterthought. Make no mistake this movie is violent. However, we have seen enough news videos showing hostage situations to know that the storyline could have been taken from headlines.

Bruce Willis was excellent. I have had conversations with people concerning several scenes that show Willis with tears in his eyes. The consensus seems to be that this shows weakness on the part of Jeff Talley Bruce Willis). The crying here does not show weakness; instead, it shows love, compassion and a burning anger.

Willis is buff and in top form in "Hostage", and he is just perfect as a former hostage negotiator who is driven by anger, anguish, desperation and a need to redeem himself. Earlier, as a Los Angeles police negotiator Talley failed to save a mother and child from death. He is so grieved and filled with guilt, that he changes his job and location to become police chief in a ritzy low crime LA district. He soon finds himself in a hostage situation once more when three teens impulsively decide to steal a car from a wealthy family. Their plans explode after they are discovered on the property. Still they attempt to carry their plans through by entering the house and holding a man and his two children hostage. They find themselves held captive in a house that has become a fully enclosed no-way-out compound after the burglar alarm is tripped. To make matters worse, the hostage is a man who holds the key that can lead to the downfall of a large illegal business. The powers of the illegal business want to insure that their man stays alive at any cost. They contact Talley and show their deadly bargaining hand. Now Tally has to negotiate like he has never done before.

This movie has received some pans. However, you know from the outset that you are going to see a shootum up movie and that's what you get, a no-holds barred, edge of your seat, action flick. The cast includes Michael D. Roberts as police officer Ridley. Years ago, Roberts played the colorful informant, Rooster, on the 1975 television show Baretta. Also in the cast are Kevin Pollak, Jimmy Bennett, Michelle Horn, Jonathan Tucker and Ben Foster, who is outstanding as Mars Krupcheck. Rumer Willis the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore is also in the movie.

Rated R for violence.

~Vanette Ryanes

Vanette Ryanes is a true movie maven. She has been an avid movie fan for more than 35 years and has a video library of 200 plus movies. She has a vast knowledge of classic black and white, noir and vintage color movies. If you have questions about movies contact Vanette, (Vannie to her friends) for answers, advice and recommendations.

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