Proof of Life
I cannot paraphrase user-provided copyrighted text, but here's an original synopsis that preserves the core plot: An American engineer, Peter Bowman, is abducted by anti-government rebels in a South American country. After they learn his identity, they demand a $5 million ransom for his safe return. His U.S. employer is on the brink of insolvency and cannot pay. Bowman's wife, Alice, must confront the crisis alone and hires freelance professional hostage negotiator Terry Thorne.
Director(s)
Taylor Hackford
Michael Stevenson
Chris Carreras
Gary Davis
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
John Chard
We're out of miracles. Russell Crowe would of course come to be better known elsewhere (filmicly) in this year, but what of his other release in 2000? Proof of Life is a blender, a picture that is in part thriller, part romance, part drama and part observation on a very real life problem - that of kidnapping for ransom. So many genres to tackle means that invariably Taylor Hackford's film feels over stuffed, pushing the running time to two hours and fifteen minutes, it is this that hurts it. A shame because if trimmed of the pointless filler and drawn out sequences then there is a very efficient (ok, maybe routine is a better word here) and well acted piece on show. The drama and tension (sexual and perilous threat) is all building towards the action packed finale, which, while well mounted, doesn't seem an adequate pay off for the number of extended chatty scenes we have had to tolerate to get there. Nice tip of the hat to a classic at the end, though. 6/10
All Trailers
