Hostage (2005/I)

Director:

Florent Emilio Siri

Writers (WGA):

Robert Crais (novel)
Doug Richardson (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Every Second Counts

Plot:

A failed police negotiator turned small town cop, must save the lives of a family held hostage, which draws him into a much more dangerous situation.

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Negotiator | Police | Los Angeles | Lapd

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 2

12:00 PM

USA

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Jeff Talley
Kevin Pollak	...	Walter Smith
Jimmy Bennett	...	Tommy Smith
Michelle Horn	...	Jennifer Smith
Ben Foster	...	Mars Krupcheck
Jonathan Tucker	...	Dennis Kelly
Marshall Allman	...	Kevin Kelly
Serena Scott Thomas	...	Jane Talley
Rumer Willis	...	Amanda Talley
Kim Coates	...	The Watchman
Robert Knepper	...	Wil Bechler
Tina Lifford	...	Laura Shoemaker
Ransford Doherty	...	Mike Anders
Marjean Holden	...	Carol Flores
Michael D. Roberts	...	Ridley

Also Known As:

Hostage - Entführt (Germany)
Bajo amenaza (Argentina) (Mexico) [es]
Заложник (Russia) [ru]
Dipli omiria (Greece) [el]
Gisslan (Sweden) [sv]
Mdzevali (Georgia) [ka]
Otage (France) [fr]
Otages de la peur (Canada: French title) [fr]
Panttivanki (Finland) [fi]
Refém (Brazil) [pt]
Rehine (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Talac (Serbia) [sr]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | USA:R (certificate #40990) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M (TV rating) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/18 | Spain:18 | Germany:16 (f) | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Azusa Canyon Inn - Highway 39, Azusa, California, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The on-screen body count is 15; 16 including the dog.

Goofs:

Continuity: One of the hostage takers hits Walter Smith in the forehead, causing him a large contusion and bleeding. When Smith gets to leave his house and is put on a stretcher inside the ambulance, you can clearly see that there is no sign of injury where his contusion is supposed to be, and no blood either.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Mack: I need to talk to that motherfucker! You hear me? I want to talk to that fucker right now! I want that motherfucker!

Movie Connections:

References Nid de guêpes (2002)

Soundtrack:

Outta Here

Challenging the clichés

I just saw Hostage today at an advanced screening and I liked it! It seems to have all the elements of the Bruce Willis action movie, so one might think it cannot surprise anymore. Then again, you rarely see a bad Bruce Willis movie. It has the opening failure of the perfect cop, and the almost "post traumatic stress" side to the character who then moves into a smaller town, but carries his burden along with him.

But this time, Bruce Willis doesn't seem all that perfect, he is scared, his voice is shaking in several situations and even cries. He still saves the day, but he's a lot more... human. And the guy is pretty good at this, too.

Then there are the really powerful scenes that shake your soul! Young actor Ben Foster is involved in many of them and does a terrific (literally and figuratively speaking) job! There are also some unexpected resolutions and some even less expected symbolic shots.

Bottom line is, Hostage is a good pick not only for the action/thriller fan, but also for any movie goer.