Ransom

This thriller pushes all the right buttons. The plot is superbly thought out, and the execution is outstanding. Mel Gibson and Rene Russo turn in very believable performances. Ron Howard's direction is excellent, using the alternation between color and black & white to heighten the drama. I found James Horner's score a bit too reminiscent of his work for Sneakers, but I did enjoy the work of Billy Corgan, which was used to accentuate the evil of the bad cop, played by a frighteningly icey Gary Sinise. Any way you slice it, though, this movie is a must-see.