Hostage (2005, USA/GER) C-113m. SCOPE **½ D: Florent Emilio Siri. Starring Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Jimmy Bennett, Michelle Horn, Ben Foster, Jonathan Tucker, Marshall Allman, Serena Scott Thomas, Kim Coates. When Willis fouls up things as the LAPD's hostage negotiator, he relocates and becomes a small-town sheriff. Soon, however, a hostile household takeover demands that he takes action. And then things get out of control. Exciting, stylish action thriller, unfortunately marred by several plot contrivances and a mean-spirited attitude. It's also extremely violent, for no reason at all. Based on a novel by Richard Crais.


© Ron Altman