Plot
When a kidnapping goes wrong, a desperate father risks everything to save his daughter from the men who hold her captive.
Release Year: 2012
Rating: 7.4/10 (199 voted)
Director:Ron Morales
Storyline
Family man Marlon Villar - a longtime chauffeur to corrupt Filipino politician Manuel Chango - is faced with an unthinkable predicament when he is ambushed while driving both his boss's and his own daughter home from school one afternoon. In the chaos of the kidnapping attempt, things go horribly awry and Marlon's daughter is taken and held for ransom instead. Desperate to save his daughter, Marlon must navigate the conflicting motives between the ruthless kidnappers, untrustworthy Chango and determined detectives eager to name him a suspect without letting on the wrong girl was taken hostage. As events spin wildly out of control, Marlon, Chango and their families are forced into a rapid downward spiral of deceit and betrayal that will leave no one innocent.
Kidnapping has been on the rise and much more organized in the last two
decades, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. I personally
have stories of close people being kidnapped in Haiti and Venezuela.
Now we are hearing more of India and South Africa, but in 2010,
according to the available statistics, the six countries in the world
ranked highest for kidnapping for ransom where Colombia, Italy,
Lebanon, Peru, the Philippines, and, perhaps surprisingly, the United
States! Certainly slightly skewed by Phoenix, AZ, which has become the
second kidnapping capital in the world after Mexico City, DF, the
concern remains a global one nonetheless.
The topic is not new, but make for potential griping dramatic
storyline. We had the effective "Ransom (1996)", the delectable "Gone
Baby Gone (2007)" and the steadfast "Taken (2008)" which is set for a
sequel this year. "Graceland (2012)" is a marvellous addition to the
genre and is surely the best film yet on the topic. It is twisted and
almost tedious, until a Usual Suspect-like quality is revealed in the
script and sustained by the uncompromising direction.
The beginning and build-up is superb and shocking and the ending puts
everything in equally appalling perspective. The middle part lags at
times, with less action and suspense than its American counterparts,
but instead explores themes of family, class, corruption, extortion,
sexual behaviour, suspicion, sickness, trafficking, revenge,
redemption, etc. with great wit and repartee.
The acting shines for the victims and the dutiful detective, although
the kidnappers' casting may have been on purpose to portray less
cunning and calculating individuals. The 84 running time keeps it
relatively short and definitely not sweet, leaving you with an awkward
after-taste and after-thought as you leave the theatre.
Philippines 2012 | 84 min | HD Tagalog & English language (English
subtitles)
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