Hostage (2005) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA, Germany 2005
Director: Florent Emilio Siri
Cast: Bruce Willis, Jimmy Bennett, Ben Foster, Jonathan Tucker, Marshall Allman, Kevin Pollak
Rating: R
Release Date: 11 March 2005
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes 45 seconds

The Movie Review

Hostage film still 1


HOSTAGE
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Man, does the title really refer to something old in crime film genre or what? Initially I didn't think that it would be something very amusing. Hostage situation? C'mon, there are already so many movies and TV series where we could get easily see a scene with the cops, criminals and unfortunate people 'trapped' between them. But back in 2005, I decided to see it anyway, I need some quick action fix for that lazy day. And man I didn't sorry I was bored. Besides, at least this movie will be something more than just same 'ol action flick considering that big names such Bruce Willis, Ben Foster and Jonathan Tucker are among the cast.

Bruce Willis plays as a retired prime hostage negotiator named Jeff Talley. Because of his extremely unpleasant last mission, Jeff decides to move to a more peaceful small town of Bristo Camino, in Ventura County, California as the Police Chief there. But one day, three amateur criminals, Mars (Ben Foster), Dennis (Jonathan Tucker) and his younger brother Kevin (Marshall Allman) are breaking in into a wealthy man's house initially merely only to steal a car but then one thing leads to another, they do something extremely fatal. This confusion may already seem worse enough, but then alas! It turns out the father (Kevin Pollak) is having much more dangerous enemies than just those juvenile boys. And Jeff Talley is forced once again to conceal his feelings and to use his old-time skill in this life-and-death hostage situation.

I was actually quite surprised with how this movie had eventually turned out. Moving forward scene by scene, Hostage is just getting more intense. I personally didn't think that a simple action movie would get me so hooked up. But Hostage is just great. The decision of selecting amateur criminals as the main villains with one of them is rather psycho is a good one. This way, we got to feel emotional seeing how they are confused and jeopardized with their own unexpected wrongdoings. And putting a confused and traumatized negotiator (Bruce Willis) as the one in charge of the side of good guys is also very slick. But you know what? The surprise is the movie still got some tricks, and that is the ultra-modern house! A house that could be a fortress just with a single click on the centralized touch screen! And you know what will happen if those criminals could get a grasp of the tech. And seeing the cops as well as the villains bulging eyes in disbelief is a nice treat too you know ;-)

Hostage is an action thriller film based on a novel by Robert Crais. I don't read the novel by talking about the movie itself, the filmmakers manage to make the quite intricate storyline well integrated. And not just that, but the ending scene is swell as well, dramatic without being too much and even classy at some point, by using a good combination of slow motion and artistic camerawork. But of course the performances of Bruce Willis, and Ben Foster as well as the rest also contribute a hefty amount of emotion to the movie.

I really consider Hostage as a real treat for the whole family. If you have a family gathering with teenagers, young adults and even seniors at your house, then Hostage might just amuse everybody. Besides for me personally, I simply just can't skip any action film with Bruce Willis in it.