Captive

source: Captive

This movie really lacked the suspense, the thrill and the tension that it needed. It was just such a boring and formulaic movie to sit through despite it being based on a true story. There was almost nothing about this movie that was inspiring or uplifting because the execution was poorly done. Everything just seemed so pretentious and forced to the point it got aggravating to sit through. Especially during the clips at the end before the credits started to roll. So the plot is about a woman who is a drug addict that also has a child of her own gets held captive by a escaped convict. A movie like this should have some heart to it but nothing about this movie moved me. This is a boring and dull film to sit through because despite it being based on a true story, it just didn't seem real (if that makes any sense). Just pass on this one. 4/10

This is the true story of "courage" of drug addict Ashley Smith (Kate Mara) whose home was invaded by Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) a rather polite cop killer who had escaped from Fulton Co. jail. Ashley reads to him a couple of lines from "A Purpose Driven Life" and he allows her to leave and then gives himself up to the cops. That is pretty much it. Ashley had ample opportunity to escape at numerous other occasions and chose not to do so, as many people speculated the two people had known each other, i.e. drug dealings previously. In this version of the story they are complete strangers. The film gets preachy during the epilogue, but wasn't too bad during the film. Unfortunately this was basically a two man play with boring characters and dialogue. The film is liked by those who enjoy faith based films. Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.

For a film to not have much information on the two main people the story is about, it really turned out to be pretty good. It was intense, very limited but the message did come across good. I wish it had more about Ashley and Brian life, and more dialogue, film could of been longer.

Great acting and a true story cannot compensate for a second-rate cinematic adaptation like director Jerry Jameson's "Captive," even with first-rate thesping from David Oyelowo, Kate Mara, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Mimi Rogers. Basically, this hostage drama is based on a true-life incident that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, back in 2005. Rape suspect Brian Nichols broke out of his cell in the Fulton County Courthouse and shot a judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's deputy, and later a Federal agent in a bid for freedom. After stealing three cars, he wound up at the Duluth, Georgia, apartment for Ashley Smith. Not long afterward, Atlanta Police surrounded the house and convinced the killer to surrender. Ashley Smith documented her experience entitled "Captive: The Untold Story of an Atlanta Hostage Hero." What could have been a genuinely exciting thriller amounts to a dreary potboiler with Christian author Rick Warren's devotional book "The Purpose Driven Life" serving as product placement. According to the hostage that Nichols holed up with, she read Warren's text to him and the message of "Captive" is that the killer saw the light and gave up to the authorities. Many well-intentioned Christian movies aimed at regular churchgoers boast low-budgets and borderline talent. Unlike those standard issue faith films, "Captive" contains first-rate acting with "Selma" star David Oyelowo cast as the killer with no qualms and "Fantastic Four" actress Kate Mara as Ashley Smith. Sadly, despite its workman-like screenplay by "Not Easily Broke" scenarist Brian Bird, "Captive" generates only a modicum of suspense. The charisma that Oyelowo and Mara bring to their respective roles has no counterpart with anything else here, except "Days of Grace" lenser Luis David Sansans' wobbly cinematography that lends an edgy quality to this lackluster outing. Nothing about this PG-13 rated, 97-minute melodrama is remotely captivating. Indeed, during the end credits, we catch a glimpse of the real-life Brian Nichols and are treated to a "Oprah" interview with Smith about her close encounter with death. Most of these Christian movies rake in millions, but "Captive" has struggled despite its laudable cast and earned back little more than its $2-million budget. For the record, Oyelowo served as one of the producers. Comparably, "Captive" and "No Good Deed" share some similarities, except "No Good Deeds" coined far greater cash. Presumably, "Captive" didn't have enough Christian values to bring in the flock. Spectators that appreciate strong acting may enjoy it simply because "Raise the Titanic" director Jerry Jameson doesn't rub our collective noses into scripture.

"Every time I do it I think : "This is the last time. I can control this." And I do it again and again and again. I just can't... I just can't stop. I like it too much." The transformation Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) undergoes, is irrefutable miraculous. He's a convicted criminal who manages to violently escape out of a courthouse, where he was waiting for his conviction after allegedly raping his girlfriend. During this escape he murders a number of people in cold blood, including the judge. This is the beginning of a major manhunt, initiated by the police departments in Atlanta. Until he bumps into Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a young woman who is trying to kick the habit of using Crystal Meth, and takes her hostage in her own apartment. And thus the miracle happens. The reading of the bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren brings Brian to repentance. Hallelujah. I don't want to detract from what actual happened and how the offender Brian, by hearing positive messages and a religious inspired guidance, managed to get his act together so his humane and kind side could take over again. And this despite the fact that his life is a complete mess and there isn't a bright future awaiting him. From my own experience I know that resorting to the basic elements of a balanced life is lifesaving. And it doesn't matter this is accomplished by listening to a learned person or a soul mate. Or by reading appropriate literature. 5 Years ago I found myself with my back against the wall. By adjusting my philosophy of life, rearranging my priorities and fighting daily against what would be my downfall, my life has changed radically. Yes it"s something wonderful and miraculous, but no need to make a film about it. That's my feeling about this film. The message in this film contains a wonderful thing and is unique. The fact that it's possible for an individual to give meaning to his life. That applies to both Brian and Ashley. Ashley sees how her life slowly derails. Her husband murdered because of her drug addiction. And her daughter taken away from her because of her disability to be a caring mother. And Brian seeing another opportunity to meet his newborn son sometime in the future. That this happened again by the hands of the Almighty God, of course will please the religious community in our society. Therefor this film is ideal as an educational film for an ecumenical community or a religious tinted television channel. The only thing I found inappropriate, was the ending showing Ashley Smith in person during an Oprah talk show where she tells her story and promotes the book that saved her live and at the same time that of the abductor. The moment the author of the acclaimed book walks into the studio, I was overtaken by a sickening feeling. The entire film was suddenly reduced to nothing more than a tele-shopping program. I'm sure there are people whose life drastically changed after reading this book. But I can imagine there are thousands of people who experienced a drastic change of life thanks to another inspiring book. Lets hope they won't turn every such experience into a movie .... More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT

"Captive" is successful in avoiding the potential of a trite Lifetime film or an evangelical tract. It takes a familiar film theme of a woman held hostage by a brutal killer and humanizes the characters with remarkable depth. The film is based on the true story of Ashley Smith, who was held captive by a Brian Nichols, who had just critically wounded a police officer and murdered a judge, court reporter, and two other bystanders in cold blood. As explained in the excellent behind-the-scenes segment in the DVD, the screenwriter, director, and actors worked hard to evoke the "miracle" of the release of Smith as a hostage and the decision of Nichols to surrender to the authorities in Atlanta. The film downplays the moments when Smith reads aloud from a self-help/religious book to Nichols. Rather, the focus is on the moments of self-revelation of both characters--Nichols as a killer and Smith as a drug addict. The bonding of the two characters in the apartment is the most memorable part of the film. Two outstanding performances are delivered by Kate Mara and David Oyelowo as Smith and Nichols. The acting is so good that one inevitably wants to see other films of these exemplary actors. In the DVD bonus segment, the most articulate of all of the film artists is Oyelowo, who describes the film as "two people finding light in the darkest places." The cast is rounded out with excellent work from Mimi Rogers as Smith's aunt and Michael K. Williams at the Atlanta police chief. Ashley Smith served as a consultant on the film. But it is clear that Mara and Oyelowo were truly dedicated to plummeting the depths of the characters, who discover redemption in two starkly different paths of their lives.

Captive is based on the true story of a junkie trying to get her daughter back who is taken hostage by a killer in her home. It's a moderately entertaining story which is helped greatly by good performances by the leads Kate Mara and David Oyelowo. The story does fall flat in places and there is a surprising lack of tension garnered from the situation. However the actors do there best with the material and this just about elevates the film above average in my opinion. Saying that there are enough good scenes to keep you watching. It's nothing to get excited about but it's a decent enough thriller to pass the time especially if you have never heard of the story.

CAPTIVE is a rather boring low budget thriller that fails to offer up much in the way of thrills or depth, despite having a startling opening sequence depicting a violent jail break. It's essentially a two hander between Kate Mara and David Oyelowo, the latter of whom plays an escaped rapist who ends up in Mara's home and takes her hostage. All good so far, but then the film turns into a lengthy, rambling sermon that seems to have been designed to advertise The Purpose-Driven Life, one of those Christian self-help books. As such, it feels more than a little preachy, as well as dull.

On reading the synopsis I wasn't sure how they were going to pull off a movie about a captive converting a convict. Based on a true story it seems they pulled it off by mostly skimming it and delivering a fairly straight criminal/hostage movie. To me it is sad that this is a true story because once it was done it went to Oprah and the facts, and I didn't see the black male convict being interviewed and celebrated. In fact the purpose driven life he gained was to in fact not see his son until he becomes 18 and chooses to do so. If it were a fiction I would have liked to see the captive fighting to make sure that man saw his son, or at least shown that the mother of his son then made contact and facilitated communication and a relationship between father and son. Without this information the story is a sad one, which would be fine, but it is framed as good for everyone despite the obvious. He even gives her her phone, a clear sign of relenting himself to the authorities, yet he doesn't give himself up. Was this confused storytelling or did he intend to give up but got scared again? We don't know because it's not even hinted at. I love the idea of this movie but what it delivers is trash mixed with troubling truths.