A film that shows god loves to work in mysterious ways that don’t always make sense at the time
There are a good amount of films these days that deal have a religious tone to them. A memorable one was The Passion of the Christ but this film is nothing like that. Captive tells the true story how Brian Nichols takes Ashley Smith captive in her own home while he is on the run for some recent crimes he committed. The message is not easy to see right away but it is a powerful one. Here is what this writer thought of this film coming out Friday.
On March 2005 Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) escapes from his holding cell in Atlanta and kills a few people along the way. He is on the run from the law and has to find somewhere he can hide. He steals a couple of cars and does everything he can to evade the authorities and make sure he is not caught. One night he ends up at an apartment complex and it is here that he runs into Ashley Madison (Kate Mara). He takes her captive in her own home and threatens to harm her and those she loves if she doesn’t do everything he says. Why has he chosen her house as his refuge from the law? What does he plan to do to her while he is there? And is there some reason these two people end up in each others lives?
The film takes a hard look at redemption and how anyone can get it as long as they are willing to take a chance. It was easy for this writer to relate to Ashley having done drugs himself many years ago. They are a cruel beast and can be very hard to kick on your own. But once she had a little faith it became easier for her to go on a new path, one that ended up being greater than she ever could have imagined.
Even though Brian was such a dangerous man, there are moments the audience will have sympathy for him. He is a man who has had a very rough life and things have gotten so bad he is unsure what to do next. Brian is the best example of a man who has lost his purpose. But somehow Brian and Ashley form a bond thanks to a simple book she was given by a fellow recovering addict. The film has a few hot moments but it ends in a way that is satisfying and gives a feeling that everything will be okay now for both of these people.
The film gets 6/10. It is not the best film coming out this weekend but it was better than expected. Even though the message is a simple one the film itself is uplifting. It is cool to see how no matter how dark or bad things may get with a little faith everything works out the way it was meant to. The film will not be for everyone but people of all ages can watch it. Kids can learn some good things from it and the family may have fun seeing this together. The only people who will want to miss it are those who are against religion. The film to them will come off as too unrealistic and unbelievable.
If you want to see an uplifting movie this is the one to pick. If you enjoy movies with a strong message this is the film you should see. With all of the religious movies that come out it is nice to see one that looks at the issues in a realistic way. People will understand it with ease and may find themselves relating to some of the characters here. But it is a not a must see film and therefore it is best to wait until it comes out to rent, it just isn’t worth the price of a ticket.
Watch the touching trailer here: