Browse Category: Hostage

RECAP: The Taking of Pelham 123

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009): Tony Scott

Jay-Z’s acclaimed song “99 Problems” booms over visuals of New York City. As the city flits about on a normal afternoon, a defanged MTA employee sits at the Rail Control Center directing traffic along the dozens of lines snaking beneath the city. One of those lines is about to get shut down.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: A disgraced MTA official negotiates with a disgruntled New Yorker after the latter seizes a local subway car, holding its passengers hostage until a ransom is paid.  Continue Reading

RECAP: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974): Joseph Sargent

What would New York do if smart hijackers took control of one of the city’s countless subway cars? Would they pay the ransom? Would they send the troops? Would they get angry about it?  Well, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three posits all three as feasible choices.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: Four professionals hijack a New York City subway car and hold its passengers for ransom for $1 million, and only a transit cop stands between them and success.  Continue Reading

RECAP: Die Hard

Die Hard (1988): John McTiernan

In late 1987 Bruce Willis won an Emmy for his role in the ABC series Moonlighting. Little did he know, little did anyone know, that in less than a year he would become the third in a triumvirate of modern action star gods.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: A New York City cop travels to a Christmas party in Los Angeles, foils a robbery, has a few laughs. Continue Reading

RECAP: Sudden Death

Sudden Death (1995): Peter Hyams

Perhaps no movie better represents the “Die Hard in a ___” premise better than Sudden Death. The second collaboration between Hyams and Jean-Claude Van Damme, the hockey movie puts Van Damme in one of his least combative roles.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: At Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, a terrorist holds the Vice President hostage, and the only man who can stop them is…the fire marshal.  Continue Reading

RECAP: Everly

Everly (2014): Joe Lynch

Do you like Selma Hayek? Do you like samurai swords? Did you like Room? If you answered “yes” to all three, have a seat, open up that bag of freshly popped popcorn, and eat it fast while you watch this movie because it’s less than 90 minutes.

It’s so short because it has to be. The camera doesn’t leave the protagonist Everly’s hotel room until after the climax. Sometimes Everly leaves it, but not for long and not far.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: A sex slave named Everly kills a lot of folks from the cozy confines of her hotel room/prison. Continue Reading

RECAP: Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen (2013): Antoine Fuqua

2013 saw the release of two movies in which the White House falls under siege. This is…one of them.

Aaron Eckhart plays a gravelly voiced tough guy in a compromised position in several of his movies. This is…one of them.

Antoine Fuqua, who directed only four movies from 2005-2012, put out as many movies since. This is…one of them.

ONE SENTENCE PLOT SUMMARY: The White House is under enemy hands, and (say it ominously) there’s only one man for the job.  Continue Reading