HURRICANE STREETS (1997)

Written & Directed By: Morgan J. Freeman  Cinematography: Enrique Chediak Editor: Sabine Hoffman 

Cast: Brendan Sexton III, Mtume Gant, Carlo Alban, Edie Falco, Lynn Cohen, Shawn Elliott, Adrian Grenier, L.M. Kit Carson, Isidra Vega, Jose Zuniga, Heather Matarazzo, David Moscow 

A teenage petty criminal dreams of escaping his increasingly unlawful lifestyle when he meets a sweet girl who hopes to one day travel to Alaska.

THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN AMERICA (2017)

Directed By: Tommy O’Haver 
Written By: Tommy O’Haver & Irene Turner 
Cinematography By: Armando Salas 
Editor: Michael X. Flores 


Cast: Melissa Leo, Juno Temple, Josh Lucas, Vincent Karthesier, Adam Scott, Brandon Mychal Smith, Rory Cochrane, Michael Chernus, Alex Frost, Jose Zuniga, Sally Kirkland, Anna Camp, Peter Fonda 

A true story of the much debated rise and demise of a woman, named Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was known as the head atheist activist of America. She founded the organization, American Atheist, and held the position of president within the organization for 23 years. Quickly this woman became the most loathed person in the country.

STRIPTEASE (1996)

Written & Directed By: Andrew Bergman 
Based On The Book By: Carl Hiaasen 
Cinematography By: Stephen Goldblatt 
Editor: Anne V. Coates 

Cast: Demi Moore, Burt Reynolds, Armand Assante, Ving Rhames, Robert Patrick, Rumer Willis, Paul Guilfoyle, Pandora Peaks, Barbara Alyn Woods, Siobhan Fallon, Jose Zuniga, Frances Fisher, Keone Young

THE CALL (2013)

Directed By: Brad Anderson
Written By: Richard D’Ovidio
Story By: Richard D’Ovidio, Nicole D’Ovidio & Jon Bokenkamp
Cinematography By: Tom Yatsko
Editor: Avi Youabian

Cast: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, David Otunga, Michael Imperioli ,Roma Maffia, Jose Zuniga, Justina Machado

RANSOM (1996)

Directed By: Ron Howard
Written By: Richard Price & Alexander Ignon;
Story: Cyril Hume & Richard Maibaum
Cinematography By: Piotr Sobocinski
Editor: Dan Haley & Mike Hill

Cast: Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Rene Russo, Dan Hedaya, Donnie Wahlberg, Lili Taylor, Liev Schrieber, Brawley Nolte, Jose Zuniga, John Ortiz

This film is the type of event film they would have made in the 1950’s Starring a huge matinee idol where they give him a paint by numbers plot but really the film is for the audience to watch the actor play to his strengths in a series of scenes and make him look like a icon. That is this film.

It’s not a mystery who kidnapped Mel Gibson’s son. It’s how long it will take him to realize it’s someone who is in his midst. This film presents you with Mel Gibson surrounded by a well known cast as you wait for the inevitable fight he is going to have with the main kidnapper and hoping it’s as goon and violent as the one he had with Gary Busey In LETHAL WEAPON

The plot is a rich man’ son is kidnapped and pretty much breaks all the rules his kidnappers set to try and get him back going against what the cops and FBI tell him to do. Showing he is a rebel and loves his son. While endangering his son’s life with every stunt just to be stubborn.

The only two interesting things about this film are the scenes where Mel Gibson confronts a old incarcerated business partner who he feels may be behind the kidnapping as revenge. The other scene is when the villain dispatches his gang including his lover to cut all ties to himself to show just how evil he is. While we are discussing it, Why this person would pick this group as kidnappers is beyond me they are like the gang who couldn’t shoot straight. It’s a miracle they even pulled the kidnapping off. So that goes beyond all reason. Why he would associate and plan to share money with these people but other then that there is nothing noteworthy other then to watch how athletic and heroic Mel Gibson is in the movie, for a man who is only supposed to be a industrialist.

This film is fine to watch on TV, When nothing else is on but no need to seek it out.

This is another Ron Howard film where he tries to have more style due to the genre. He tries his luck here with a little more dark material then he is used to but somehow still manages to make it bland. At least here the direction is a little stronger then usual for him but it is still not quite a home run.

When it comes to Ron Howard films I loved most of them as a kid growing up he somehow makes you feel a nostalgic mood when watching his films. But after this one there was a feeling something wasn’t right so I began watching them with a more critical eye. He is a talented director but he really has no style. He was born too late because his films are more idealistic when it comes to content and character. The films fit right in for the 1950’s type melodrama. He seems a perfect director for the middle aged male demographic with material that is not too harsh and more family oriented more over sentimentalized.

GRADE: C-