{"id":6357,"date":"2015-09-25T16:13:31","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T16:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=6357"},"modified":"2016-01-07T14:11:10","modified_gmt":"2016-01-07T14:11:10","slug":"film-captive-12a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/reviews\/film-captive-12a\/","title":{"rendered":"FILM: Captive (12a)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"captive_poster\"<\/p>\n

Dir Jerry Jameson<\/p>\n

Starring:\u00a0 David Oyelowo,\u00a0Kate Mara,\u00a0Michael K. Williams,\u00a0Mimi Rogers , Leonor Varela<\/p>\n

Reviewed by Matt Adcock – read: Matt’s interview with David Oyelowo<\/a><\/em>
\n\"75\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a demon inside me\u201d\u00a0Brian Nichols<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How far do you have to go before you\u2019re considered \u2018beyond redemption\u2019? That\u2019s a key question at the heart of Captive, the impressive fact based crime drama based on hostage victim Ashley Smith\u2019s account: Unlikely Angel.<\/p>\n

The plot follows the heart-wrenching impact on two desperate people\u2019s lives when convicted felon Brian Nichols (David \u2018Martin Luther King in Selma\u2019 Oyelowo) kidnaps drug addict Ashley Smith (Kate \u2018Fantastic Four\u2019 Mara). We get to witness a tense long night of the soul as Nichols holds Smith captive in her home after murdering four people during a frantic escape from the court (where he had just been convicted of rape). As a massive police manhunt rages across the State, Nichols lies low and finds himself interacting with Smith in ways that will potentially change both their lives.<\/p>\n

A gritty true crime kidnap-em-up, Captive is at first glance a somewhat unlikely candidate to be a film that carries a heavyweight plug for the power of redemption featuring Christian Pastor Rick Warren\u2019s best-selling book: The Purpose Driven Life. But much like the suitcase McGuffin in Pulp Fiction, Warren\u2019s \u2018Christian life motivation tome\u2019 is an interesting element of the plot, which is used sparingly to thought provoking effect.<\/p>\n

Director Jameson keeps the action tight and is aided by the powerful interaction of the two leads as they explores issues of including spiritual darkness, desperation and yes redemption but not in an overly saccharine preachy way. Mara is excellent as the twitchy troubled Smith whilst Oyelowo is simply outstanding as the mentally disturbed, psychotic Nichols, who believes that he is fighting a one-man war against his oppression.<\/p>\n

Captive provides a strong depiction of two lost souls finding an understanding around their common ground of each having estranged children, which allows their humanity to seep through.<\/p>\n

There is strong support from Mimi Rogers as Smith\u2019s aunt who has custody of her daughter and Michael K. Williams as Detective John Chestnut – the lead investigator on the Police task force (who channels the energy of Wesley Snipes at his most dynamic).<\/p>\n

Even as film shot through with spiritual energy you should be prepared for scenes of hard drug use and a truly brutal massacre that isn\u2019t an easy watch.<\/p>\n

Captive is an intense and tragic thrill ride that will leave you with much to contemplate. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n

Thinking material:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ashley-Smith-recounts-hostage\"\u2018The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.\u2019 This is a quote from The Purpose Driven Life \u2013 the book that plays such an interesting role in the film Captive. It\u2019s fascinating because although (spoiler ahead)<\/em> the book affects Nichols\u2019 thinking and could be shown to have helped set him on the path to a peaceful surrender, it is only one element. There are undoubtedly other factors at work including the fatherly bond this killer has in wanting to see his newborn son and even the \u2018coming down\u2019 from the meth drug that he takes in the film during the night.
\nWhat is awesome however is that God can work through many and varied factors \u2013 both those that seem \u2018obvious\u2019 such as the passages of the Christian book but also the associated circumstances. e.g. why Nichols picked Smith\u2019s apartment to hole up in at all.
\n(end of spoilers)<\/em><\/p>\n

We should never count out the seemingly incidental things that can lead to people\u2019s lives being changed, it doesn\u2019t necessarily have to mean that you go buy 20 copies of The Purpose Driven Life and give them to your family and friends (although it probably wouldn\u2019t hurt). Just being open to the situations of others around you is a great start \u2013 you never know how or when something you say or do could have an unexpected and life changing effect.<\/p>\n

CVM Rating:<\/strong>\u00a0**** 4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n

Related Films:<\/strong>\u00a0 there\u2019s not much else like this out there!?<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Click this banner to find and download some fantastic additional resources that explore the issues raised in CAPTIVE from\u00a0@EthosMedia<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>