Ransom [Special Edition]

Director: Ron Howard Ron Howard

Overview

"Ron Howard's kidnapping thriller Ransom comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. The film has neither looked nor sounded better on home video. Spanish subtitles are accessible, and a French soundtrack has also been included. The extensive supplemental materials include a detailed commentary by Howard. He discusses many elements of the production and is full of praise for his cast. Those who like insider gossip will greatly enjoy the story of what happened the day Mel Gibson was nominated for an Oscar for directing Braveheart. Numerous deleted scenes have been included, and two behind-the-scenes featurettes allow the actors to talk about the process of making the film. This disc was released simultaneously with a number of Ron Howard films that have all been outfitted with quality extras."

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2004
UPC:	0786936232981
Original Release:	1996
Rating:	R
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:01:00
Sales rank:	8,707

Special Features

Closed Caption;Extensive deleted scenes; "What Would You Do?" featurette with cast & crew; Commentary with director Ron Howard; Behind-the-scenes special with cast and filmmakers; International theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mel Gibson	Tom Mullen
Rene Russo	Kate Mullen
Gary Sinise	Jimmy Shaker
Delroy Lindo	Agent Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor	Maris Connor
Liev Schreiber	Clark Barnes
Evan Handler	Miles Roberts
Donnie Wahlberg	Cubby Barnes
Brawley Nolte	Sean Mullen
Dan Hedaya	Jackie Brown
Paul Guilfoyle	Wallace
Michael Gaston	Agent Jack Sickler
Nancy Ticotin	Agent Kimba Welch
Kevin Neil McCready	Agent Paul Rhodes
Allen Bernstein	Bob Stone
Iraida Polanco	Fatima
John Ortiz	Roberto
Mike Hodge	Man at Party
Paul Geier	Mayor Barresi
Louisa Marie	Woman at Party
Edward Francis Joseph	Guest at Party
A.J. Benza	Reporter Guest
Peter Anthony Tambakis	Nelson
Tony Hoty	Doorman
Daniel May Wong	Agent Sam
John Short	Agent Dewey
Ed Jupp	Technician
Stephen Oates	NYPD/SWAT
Gene Harrison	FBI/SWAT Leader
Mick O'Rourke	FBI/SWAT
Henry Kingi Jr.	FBI/SWAT
Roy Farfel	FBI/SWAT
Lex D. Geddings	FBI/SWAT Sniper
Donna Hanover	News Reporter
Rosanna Scotto	News Anchor
Tony Potts	News Anchor
John 'Spike' Finnerty	Newshound
Todd Hallowell	Don Campbell
Joe Bacino	Cop No. 1
Carl S. Redding	Cop No. 2,Reporter
James Georgiades	Cop No. 3
Christian Maelen	Cop No. 4
David Vadim	Cop No. 5
Addie O'Donnell	Reporter
Judy Hudson	Reporter
Mitzie Pratt	Reporter
Michael Countryman	Bank Manager
Chris Lopata	Agent Levin
John Richard Hartmann	Agent Lambert
Anton Evangelista	FBI Agent
Richard Price	Detective No. 1
Joseph Badalucco Jr.	Liquor Store Cop
Dell Maara	Liquor Store Perp
Tommy Allen	Detective at Kidnap House
John Dorish	Paramedic
Vincent Burns	Detective Doran
Brad Brewer	Crowtation
Darren Brown	Crowtation,Crowtation
Glenn King	Crowtation
Cheryl Howard	Science Fair Coordinator
James Ritz	Science Fair Judge
Anna Marie Wieder	Woman at Science Fair
Joan D. Lowry	Mayor's Wife
Craig Castaldo	Radioman
Teodorina Bello	Woman on Street No. 1
J.J. Chaback	Woman on Street No. 2
Lori Tan Chinn	Woman on Street No. 3
Carl Don	Man on Street No. 1
Nathaniel Freeman	Man on Street No. 2
Phil Parolisi	Man on Street No. 3
Rafael Osorio	Man on Street No. 4
Leslie Devlin	Newscaster
Lewis Dodley	Newscaster
John Brian Rogers	ND Cop No. 1
Jeffrey Kaufman	ND Cop No. 2
Mark Smith	Undercover Cop
Jim Whalen	Detective
José Zúñiga	David Torres
Kim Snyder	Kate's Friend
Panicker Upendran	Store Owner
Ed Jupp Jr.	Technician
James Horner	Composer

Technical Credits

Cyril Hume

Richard Price

Richard Maibaum

Alexander Ignon

Ron Howard	Director
Brian Grazer	Producer
B. Kipling Hagopian	Producer,Producer
Todd Hallowell	Executive Producer
Janet Hirshenson	Casting
Jane Jenkins	Casting
Scott Rudin	Producer
Jeff Ward	Stunts
Cyril Hume	Screenwriter
Richard Price	Screenwriter
Richard Maibaum	Screenwriter
Alexander Ignon	Screenwriter
Susan Merzbach	Producer
Adam Schroeder	Producer
Reba Merrill	Producer
John Alagna	Special Effects
Felix Andrew	Sound Effects
Louis Bertini	Sound Effects
Patricia Brolsma	Sound Effects
Jason Canovas	Sound Effects
Steve Castellano	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Crisp, taut, and often preposterous, Ron Howard's Ransom is as eager a suspenseful potboiler as they come. For the most part, it scores, with Mel Gibson revisiting the righteous anger that worked so well for him in films like Mad Max and Braveheart. The film absorbs the viewer from the start, as a disorienting abduction scene teaches Rene Russo's character how simply -- and perhaps irrevocably -- a loved one can be whisked away. As they process the kidnappers' demands, the Mullens and FBI agents reach great heights of melodramatic emotion, worrying that brashness has cost them their son. Meanwhile, the parallel scenes in the kidnappers' headquarters reveal that their stakes are equally high, and that their strategizing must be just as methodical. A little in awe of what they've done, they display a sense of high-strung uneasiness that's unusual in movie villains, often known for their evil stoicism. But the film makes a bit of a misstep when it thrusts Gibson into vigilante mode. It's meant to be a statement on Gibson's descent into madness -- inspired by the belief that his son is dead -- that he places a bounty on the heads of his son's captors. But it's hard to fully support a hero in the wake of such a reckless decision. The viewer is left with the nagging notion that if the child is killed, his father will have provoked it.