A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Hostage

Date Viewed: 3/26/05

Details:

Bruce Willis

Kevin Pollak

Jimmy Bennett

Michelle Horn

Ben Foster

Jonathan Tucker

Marshall Allman

Director: Florent Emilio Siri

Score: 1/2

The Review: Ben Foster is spooky good in Diehard 57 3/4 -- oops, Hostage -- the latest Bruce Willis action thriller. Foster and two other teenage delinquent jerks (Tucker & Allman) get involved with B&E and a tense hostage situation but -- dare I whisper, formula? -- they have no idea who they're tangling with. And that's just the victim (Pollak). Willis -- in the process of becoming estranged from his wife and daughter -- is a cop with experience on the LA force as a hostage negotiator, until one of his jobs goes horribly wrong.

Hostage provides a bit more emotional range for Willis than the typical Diehard -- oops, slap on the face. Besides Foster and Bennett (the young son of the victim), the kids involved do but a mediocre job of carrying the tension.

The house in the hills that becomes the action focus is a curious architectural blend of fortress and water-park, hung on the side of a spectacular rock outcropping. One wonders if, like the house in North by Northwest (alas), this is simply a stage set. In a sense, the house becomes one of the characters, and is a bit more interesting than some of them.

Not bad, and it is engaging, but when you finally stop to think, there are plot holes you could drive an ambulance through. Check your critical facilities at the door, and you'll be OK.

(27-Mar-05)

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