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Ransom poster

Ransom

year 1996decade 90sdirector Ron Howardgenre Actiongenre Thriller

121 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Mel Gibson Tom Mullen
Rene Russo Kate Mullen
Gary Sinise Jimmy Shaker
Delroy Lindo Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor Maris Conner
Liev Schreiber Clark Barnes
Donnie Wahlberg Cubby Barnes
Brawley Nolte Sean Mullen
Evan Handler Miles Roberts
Dan Hedaya Jackie Brown
Paul Guilfoyle Stan Wallace
José Zúñiga David Torres

Ransom | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Van Lathanproducer Craig Horlbeck format 25th anniversary
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Mount Rushmore for Kidnapping Movies

Man on Fire, Taken, Misery, Proof of Life; Taken, Man on Fire, Who's Harry Crumb?, Ruthless People

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:04:07Read transcript
  • A first list of four favorite kidnapping movies: Man on Fire, Taken, Misery (argued to count even though people do not think of it as a kidnap movie) and Proof of Life, which was already covered on the podcast.
  • Three more on the bubble: Ransom, Fargo, and Without a Trace from around 1982 with Kate Nelligan, whose son is taken and found in the end.
  • A second four-film Mount Rushmore puts Taken first and Man on Fire second, then two kidnapping comedies from childhood: Who's Harry Crum with John Candy and, after trying to recall the title, Ruthless People with Danny DeVito.
  • Kidnapping comedies are preferred for the levity because kidnapping movies can get grim, and Ransom gets about as grim as it gets.

Casting What-Ifs

Alec Baldwin and Ray Liotta for Jimmy Shaker

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:12Read transcript
  • Ron Howard turned down directing The Chamber, a movie that did not totally work, to direct this.
  • The first choice for Jimmy Shaker was Alec Baldwin, who turned it down because of how the child was endangered; Ray Leota also passed over how kids are treated in the script, and Sinise was the third choice.
  • Baldwin once said his movie career felt like a failure without a huge hit he drove; he fumbled Jack Ryan and should have made seven of those movies.
  • Malice with Nicole Kidman is recommended for Baldwin's performance; the movie is called bad but rewatchable for a terrible Boston accent.

Recasting Couch

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:22Read transcript
  • Leav Schreiber is bumped for a skinny, pre-Good Will Hunting Ben Affleck of the Chasing Amy and Mallrats era, for a little more star power.
  • Jason Lee is the other option, to add some wise-ass comments; the bald Californication guy's role was meant to be the wise-ass and did not work.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Gibson's appendectomy delay; Brawley Nolte

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:16Read transcript
  • Good research was hard to find; production was delayed because Gibson needed an emergency appendectomy, pushing a planned 1995 release to 1996.
  • The kid is played by Nick Nalty's son, noticed in the credits; he did a couple more movies and then quit.

Picking Nits

Multi-millionaire label; Jimmy jumping the gun; missing security; unconvincing kidnapper relationship; no private parents scene; no security at the end; slow 'shouldn't be a problem' reaction; 'don't shoot him, Tom'; second gun; Jackie Brown storyline

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:53Read transcript
  • The TV station calling Tom a multi-millionaire is weird.
  • The biggest nitpick is Jimmy jumping the gun and showing up unannounced for the ransom; the reply is that the film telegraphs his panic by showing the girl's picture and saying a mastermind is still out there.
  • Where are Mel's security guards, given how rich he is?
  • Jimmy's relationship with the girl in the crew is never sold, so his hesitation and haunting after her death do not land.
  • The movie needed a quiet private scene of Renee and Mel lying in bed upset about their kid.
  • At the end the family is playing soccer outside with no security right after the kidnapping.
  • The film hinges on 'shouldn't be a problem' being said enough to trigger Mel; once he realizes it is the guy, he should jump across the table, sling or not.
  • The 'don't shoot him, Tom' trope should be retired; Tom would not go to jail a day for shooting him.
  • The villain definitely has a second gun on his leg.
  • Looking back, the Jackie Brown storyline is not needed; it is a red herring but makes little sense.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Who is Tom Mullen today? Chris Sacca

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:43Read transcript
  • Who is Tom Mullen right now in real life?
  • Candidates floated are Mark Andresen, Chris Saka, the guy who owns Jit Blue, Mark Cuban as one of the more likable billionaires, and the Shark Tank guys.
  • The answer goes to Chris Saka, a billionaire investor in things like Uber who has been on the podcast.
  • Warren Buffett is a billionaire who owns everything and befriends athletes and rappers.