Thursday Movie Picks: Hostages
1) Argo
I know Affleck is a mess right now but can we acknowledge that he directed the shit out of this movie? I was on the edge of my seat the entire time even though I knew the hostages were going to get out. Like, WHAT IF?
2) Prisoners
I love this movie, there were so many twists and turns and the scenes of Hugh Jackman's character keeping Paul Dano hostage were so chilling.
3) Misery
Can we talk about hostages without including the godmother of holding someone against their will; Annie Wilkes? She's your number one fan.
Jackman destroying that sink with a hammer will never fail to make me laugh 😂
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you at least got a laugh out of that movie since you hated the rest so much lol.
DeleteI wouldn't say I liked Misery but Kathy Bates is mesmerizing in it.
ReplyDeleteSorry I despised Prisoners with pretty much every fiber of my being.
Hey we match!!! Argo is a terrifically engrossing film that never forgets that the main responsibility of a movie is to entertain. That balancing act of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats despite the outcome being known is a tough one to pull off, Apollo 13 & Hidden Figures managed it and Affleck does it here.
Since the hostage theme is probably as old as film itself, dating back at least to The Perils of Pauline in 1914, I did a bit of decade hopping with mine.
Hostages (1943)-A large group of Czechoslovakians are held hostages by the Gestapo until the supposed killer of a Nazi officer-actually a suicide-is turned in. Among the group is the leader of the resistance movement (William Bendix), working undercover as an apparently ignorant washroom attendant in the nightclub where the victim was last seen alive. Meanwhile a group of resistance fighters, led by Maria (Katina Paxinou), try to contact Bendix to establish the time to blow up a German ammunition supply and devise a plan to rescue the prisoners. This was double Oscar winner Luise Rainer’s last film for 54 years.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)-Four men Misters Blue, Green, Grey and Brown board a New York subway train and take the 18 passengers hostage demanding one million dollars in an hour’s time or they will start killing the hostages, one a minute until their demands are met. Under the direction of laconic but sharp transit cop Zach Garber (Walter Matthau) the city tries to meet the deadline and negotiate the lives of the hostages. Slam bang adventure with a cast full of familiar faces really captures the pulsing feel of New York City in the 70’s.
Argo (2012)-1979 Tehran, militants storm the U.S. embassy taking 66 American hostages. During the siege six manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew. Affleck does well in blending all the intricacies of the plot into a cohesive taut whole.
I'm glad we matched! I know a few people (like Sati!) who hated Prisoners so I get it lol. I never saw your other picks, but I did work at the theater when the remake for Pelham 123 was there, I believe. I'm sure it wasn't as good.
ReplyDeleteIt was not. While not dreadful it diluted all of the wonderful color the various character actors added, as well as a great deal of the tension and turned it into a routine actioner.
DeleteGreat list! I still need to watch Misery, especially after hearing so many good things about this movie!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Thursday Movie Picks!
Ronyell @ The Surreal Movies and TV Blog
I had Misery on a Blind Spot a few years ago. I was late to it as well.
DeleteI went with a completely different take on this as I wanted to avoid the obvious yet I've seen all of those films and they're all awesome.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them too!
DeletePrisoners was such a great film! I can't believe it completely slipped my mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit ashamed to admit this but I have never seen Misery lol
I only saw it for the first time a few years ago so I have no room to talk. lol
DeleteHell yes for Prisoners and Misery. Misery is damned awesome! I would love to participate in these things but my memory is so bad! All I remember about Prisoners is Johann's soundtrack, RIP. He was an amazing composer.
ReplyDeleteI just created one of those letterbox accounts so now I can track what my memory can't! Can you follow people on that site? If so, whats ur username?
As always, great post =] You are always putting films on my radar, that Fast Colour is one I really need to watch
You should start participating! I have to bust out Google every now and then on a topic for ideas, no harm in that.
DeleteTrue that. I think I'll join in, it'd be nice to have something regular to write about, I've posted once in the last six weeks, simply because I bloody forget to open it up! I've got over six drafts sitting nearly finished. Hopefully today, now that I'm on my PC, I can actually finish one!
DeleteIt is, and honestly I write a bunch in advance, then just tweak it when it's about to post if need be. I've already gotten all my TMP written for the rest of the year.
DeleteGreat choices. I'm a big fan of Prisoners. Talk about a movie that sticks with you. I also like Argo better than many. Haven't seen it in a while though.
ReplyDeleteI saw Prisoners in a packed theater and the audience was so into it. So much gasping and what not, I think that really elevated it for me.
DeleteI didn't like Prisoners, it was also very disturbing, so won't see it again. Misery I think I saw it as a kid, don't remember much.
ReplyDeleteThere are some strong feelings about Prisoners. I get it.
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