Captive (DVD REVIEW)
Captive
DVD
Review
by Kam Williams
Docudrama
Recounts Ordeal of Mom Held Hostage by Rapist Murderer
On March
11, 2005, Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) was being escorted from jail
to the Fulton County Courthouse where he was set to go on trial for
assault, kidnapping and rape. But en route to the courtroom, he
overpowered a sheriff's deputy (Diva Tyler) and took her gun before
embarking on a bloody killing spree that would claim the lives of the
judge, a court reporter, a police sergeant and a federal agent.
Nichols
subsequently eluded the authorities, hijacking several vehicles as he
made his way from Atlanta to the suburb of Duluth. There, in the
middle of the night , he abducted Ashley Smith (Kate Mara) on the
street and forced her at gunpoint to take him home with her.
Once in the
apartment, the high-strung sociopath smashed her head against the
wall, even though she was doing her best to complying with his
demands. After all, she was well aware that she was dealing with an
armed and extremely dangerous fugitive of justice who was the subject
of the biggest manhunt in Georgia history. So, there was no reason
for the single-mom to do anything stupid that might jeopardize her
chances of ever seeing her daughter (Elle Graham) again, especially
since, as a recovering meth addict prone to relapse, she had already
been forced to surrender custody of Paige to an Aunt (Mimi Rogers).
Meanwhile,
the police were closing in. Since Brian had left his cell phone on,
they were able to narrow down his location to within a three-mile
radius of the tower sending out his signal. They even spoke to him
and suggested he give himself up, all to no avail.
What
instead ensued was a seven-hour ordeal during which Ashley and Brian
not only eventually bonded but experienced a life-transforming
catharsis to boot. Thanks to Ashley's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor,
she had in her possession a copy of “The Purpose-Driven Life,”
the inspirational best-seller by Pastor Rick Warren.
And in
response to her captor's admission “I've got a demon in me,” the
frightened victim thought to ask his permission to share some pearls
of wisdom from the popular, inspirational, self-help guide: “The
greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose,” she
began, adding, “When life has meaning, you can bear almost
anything.”
Well,
Warren's inspirational message resonated. as Brian surrendered soon
after the impromptu Sunday school class, and Ashley never snorted
meth ever again. Thus unfolds Captive a faith-based tale of
redemption directed by Jerry Jameson.
A riveting,
psychological thriller recounting a nationally-known standoff, but
from the fresh perspective of the two troubled souls barricaded in a
home surrounded by a SWAT team.
Very Good (3
stars)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes
involving violence and substance abuse
Running time: 97 minutes
Distributor: Paramount Home
Entertainment
DVD Extras: Faith and the Purpose
Driven Life; Journey through Darkness; and Filming Captive.
To see a trailer for Captive,
visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IKJFYegRJk
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