Bruce Willis’ ‘Hostage’ Is Better Than Its Rotten Tomatoes Score

The 2000s are not known for producing Bruce Willis‘ best movies. The action star’s fame rose after The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, but the momentum slowed with less acclaimed projects, such as Hart’s War and Tears of the Sun. However, it was at this time that Willis made Hostage, one of his best and most underappreciated films. However, the film failed to impress critics and remains an overlooked chapter in the career of the Die Hard star.

However, Hostage is one of Willis’ finest films. The action thriller showcased the actor at his best, delivering his usual action persona in a well-written script that paired him with criminally underrated performers. With a plausible crime plot, a volatile villain, and Bruce Willis’s signature action style, Hostage is a rewatchable thriller that deserves re-evaluation beyond its poor Rotten Tomatoes score.

What Is Bruce Willis’ ‘Hostage’ About?

Miramax Films

Hostage, released in 2005, tells the story of a hostage negotiator who decides to retire from the difficult craft after a case ends in tragedy. He became sheriff and stepped away from hostage negotiations. That is, until three young delinquents break into the home of a wealthy man and find themselves embroiled in a highly complex plot. However, Talley hands the case off since hostage negotiations fall outside his jurisdiction.

However, Talley has another problem. When he finds out his own family has been taken hostage, Talley must find a way to comply with the demands of dangerous criminals. A crucial DVD containing evidence is inside the mansion where the hostage situation unfolds, and Talley must prevent the authorities from seizing it, or his family will face dire consequences. Per the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis of the film:

After one of his hostage negotiations goes awry, LAPD officer Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis) quits the force and relocates his family to the suburbs. As the sheriff in a sleepy town, Jeff thinks he has escaped the hustle and bustle – until an elaborate local heist puts him back in the center of a hostage situation. When his own family is pulled into the fray, Jeff is forced to decide whether he should try to help the hostages or follow the criminals’ hands-off mandate to protect his own family.

‘Hostage’ Is One of Bruce Willis’ Best and Most Underappreciated Movies

Ben Foster in the film Hostage — Miramax Films

Hostage is an intense thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its relentless plot. Willis delivers one of his most compelling and multi-layered performances, especially notable given the impressive caliber of his co-stars. Jonathan Tucker, the young star of The Virgin Suicides, Sleepers, and The Ruins, is perfect as one of the criminals trying to keep things together. However, Hostage is Ben Foster’s show, as the young actor of Hell or High Water fame manages to steal every scene he’s in by playing an erratic madman who breaks the conventions of villain tropes. Among the criminals, he stands out as the most unpredictable and dangerous.

The film was directed by Florent-Emilio Siri and written by Doug Richardson, who adapted the script from Robert Crais’s novel, Hostage. Upon its release, the film achieved a modest box office performance, grossing over $77 million against a $75 million production budget. Hostage was critically panned, and today it holds a 32% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is higher, registering a 62% rating. Famed critic Roger Ebert was one of the few who liked the movie, awarding it three stars out of four. Perhaps this excerpt from his review will convince you that Hostage deserves re-evaluation:

“I am not much concerned about such logical flaws, because the main line of the movie is emotional, driven by the Willis character, who is able to project more intensity with less overacting than most of his rivals… The mechanics of the final showdown are unexpected and yet show an undeniable logic, and are sold by the acting skills of Willis and Pollak.”

Hostage is available to stream on Paramount+.