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Will Jennings (Stuart Townsend) exudes the strong, sweet scent of success when he announces at a
doctors' convention the product of his research: a new, fast healing post operative drug. Among other things, the news projects him to be a man of increasing financial
resources but it also makes him and his family enticing targets of kidnappers.
His eight-year-old child Abbey (Dakota Fanning) is abducted by Joe (Kevin Bacon) and Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince), "professional" kidnappers with a foolproof plan that has worked successfully for them in the past. Marvin guards the child in a forested area, Joe stays with Will's wife Karen (Charlize Theron) in the latter's home and Joe's wife Cheryl (Courtney Love) works on the good doctor in another location, to come up with the ransom. Cell phones are handy as they call each other every 30 minutes. The plan hits its first snag when they discover that Abbey is severely asthmatic and needs immediate medical attention whenever an allergen or stress brings on an almost fatal attack. Karen turns out to be "unlike other moms." Joe tries to seduce her to fortify his hold on her but she puts him in a fight fix instead. With drugs, Will overpowers Cheryl. But the kidnappers have Abbey and they have a deadline. The Jennings also discover that the kidnappers have other motivations, aside from the money. One call to the police or no call from the mastermind Joe to his accomplices, spells trouble for Abbey.
The strategies used by kidnappers may vary but they have the same cold-blooded ruthlessness and
organized precision in executing their timetable or plan.
With an unusual strategy of having three hostages by three kidnappers in three different places, the storyline has one such modus operandi with all the details worked out but some unexpected problems puncture the perfect plan and add interest and suspense. Viewers can follow with apprehension and revulsion the increasing sadism of the kidnappers. This is due to the fine direction of Luis Mandoki, the screenplay and the effective performances of the leads Kevin Bacon, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Charlize Theron and especially Dakota Fanning, the precocious child actress of the acclaimed movie
I am Sam.
Based on the novel entitled 24 Hours by George Iles, the film is a blow-by-blow account of
how a kidnap-for-ransom syndicate operates.
Though it has its technical merits and the positive value of love for family, this movie is untimely, considering the prevalence of kidnapping in our country and elsewhere in the world. It will give criminals novel ideas to harm others, if they have not thought of these yet. The violence in the film is not frequently graphic but it is psychologically intense. This picture is a reflection of reality but does it contribute to making this world a better place? When we go to a movie, we want to be entertained (one wonders about what kind of mind is entertained by ruthlessness and sadism) but if, besides some moments of relaxation, the movie sharpens our insights as well as deepens our sensitivity towards others, or if it inspires us to be less selfish and be more caring and compassionate, then we would think the movie is worth our money and time.
(Date reviewed: November 8, 2002)
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