Captive (2015 film)

Last updated

Captive
Captive (2015 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jerry Jameson
Screenplay by
Based onUnlikely Angel
by Ashley Smith
Produced by
  • Lucas Akoskin
  • Terry Botwick
  • Alex Garcia
  • David Oyelowo
  • Ken Wales
  • Katrina Wolfe
Starring
CinematographyLuis David Sansans
Edited byMelissa Kent
Music by Lorne Balfe
Production
companies
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • September 18, 2015 (2015-09-18)(United States)
Running time
97 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million [2]
Box office$2.8 million [3]

Captive is a 2015 American crime-drama thriller film directed by Jerry Jameson and written by Brian Bird and Reinhard Denke, based on the non-fiction book Unlikely Angel by Ashley Smith.

Contents

A true story about Brian Nichols, who escapes from the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta on March 11, 2005 and holds Ashley Smith as a hostage, the film stars David Oyelowo as Nichols and Kate Mara as Smith. Filming began in October 2013 in North Carolina. The film was released worldwide on September 18, 2015 by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

On March 11, 2005, Brian Nichols escapes from the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta, during his trial involving a rape case. In the process of the escape he murders the judge presiding over his trial, Rowland Barnes, as well as court reporter Julie Brandau. He also shoots Sergeant Hoyt Teasley while escaping from the courthouse, and later kills ICE Special Agent David G. Wilhelm, who was off-duty at his home.

Nichols becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt. His frantic escape brings him to the apartment of Ashley Smith, a single mother and recovering methamphetamine addict, whom he holds hostage. Smith gets through the time by being inspired by Rick Warren's best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life while Nichols searches for redemption. As she reads aloud, Smith and her would-be killer come to a crossroads. Nichols eventually turns himself in to the police.

Cast

Production

Development

On October 15, 2013, David Oyelowo and Kate Mara joined the thriller Captive based on the true story of Brian Nichols, who escaped from the courthouse in Atlanta on March 11, 2005; he murdered the judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's deputy, and an off-duty federal agent. [4] Later, he takes Ashley Smith hostage at her own house. [4] BN Films set Jerry Jameson to direct the film, which was adapted by Brian Bird and Reinhard Denke, based on Smith's non-fiction Unlikely Angel. [4] Alex Garcia, Lucas Akoskin, Terry Botwick, Oyelowo, and Ken Wales would be producing the film through Brightside Entertainment, 1019 Entertainment, and Yoruba Saxon Productions. [4] Oyelowo was set to play Nichols, Mara to play Smith, with Leonor Varela and Mimi Rogers also in the cast. [4] Michael K. Williams joined the film's cast on October 24, 2013 to play Detective John Chestnut. [5] Jessica Oyelowo's involvement was confirmed on March 16, 2015, along with Jameson and Katrina Wolfe as producers. [6]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began in October 2013 in North Carolina. [7]

Release

On March 16, 2015, Paramount Pictures acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the film and set the film for a September 18, 2015 release date. [6] On June 16, 2015, the first trailer for the film was released. [8]

Reception

Captive has received generally negative reviews from critics, although praise was given towards the lead actors' chemistry. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 27%, based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 4.50/10. The site's consensus reads, "Captive undermines committed performances from Kate Mara and David Oyelowo -- and the real-life story they're dramatizing -- with a thin script doubling as an ad for a self-help book." [9] James Rocchi of The Wrap called it "A Lifetime movie shoved into a cage and fattened with sermons and platitudes until it is ready to be served up cold and bland." [10] But Linda Cook of the Quad City Times called it "a top-notch, captivating film." [11] Michael Foust of The Christian Post labeled it "one of the most inspiring movies I've ever seen" and added it was "not the typical Christian movie." [12] Foust wrote, "I suspect the movie ... succeeds because we can see a bit of ourselves in Smith or even Oyelowo, two broken people whose lives intersect on a tragic day in which the power of God's Word triumphed." [13] On Metacritic the film has a score of 36 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". [14]

Inaccuracies

In the film, Nichols is depicted shooting Judge Barnes from the front when in real life, Nichols snuck into the courtroom from the back and shot Barnes from behind. He is also shown killing Deputy Teasley inside the courthouse, when Nichols actually killed Teasley after he ran outside. Also, Nichols shot Teasley five times, while in the movie, he shoots him only twice.

Nichols took four hostages before the killings but in the film, he doesn't take any hostages aside from Smith.

Related Research Articles

<i>S.W.A.T.</i> (film) 2003 film directed by Clark Johnson

S.W.A.T. is a 2003 American action crime thriller film directed by Clark Johnson and written by David Ayer and David McKenna, with the story credited to Ron Mita and Jim McClain. Produced by Neal H. Moritz, it is based on the 1975 television series of the same name and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt and Olivier Martinez. The plot follows Hondo (Jackson) and his SWAT team as they are tasked to escort an imprisoned drug kingpin/international fugitive to prison after he offers a $100 million reward to anyone who can break him out of police custody.

<i>The Purpose Driven Life</i> 2002 bible study book by Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Life is a bible study book written by Christian pastor Rick Warren and published by Zondervan in 2002. The book offers readers a 40-day personal spiritual journey and presents what Warren says are God's five purposes for human life on Earth.

<i>Kiss the Girls</i> (1997 film) 1997 film by Gary Fleder

Kiss the Girls is a 1997 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Cary Elwes. The screenplay by David Klass is based on James Patterson's best-selling 1995 novel of the same name. A sequel titled Along Came a Spider was released in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Nichols</span> American mass murderer and rapist

Brian Gene Nichols is a convicted murderer known for his escape and killing spree in the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 11, 2005. Nichols was on trial for rape when he escaped custody and murdered Rowland Barnes, the judge presiding over his trial, a court reporter, a Fulton County Sheriff's deputy, and later an ICE special agent. Twenty-six hours after a large-scale manhunt was launched in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Nichols was taken into custody. The prosecution charged him with committing 54 crimes during the escape; he was found guilty on all counts on November 7, 2008, and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Nichols (actress)</span> American actress and model

Rachel Nichols is an American actress and model. Nichols began modeling while attending Columbia University in New York City in the late 1990s, and transitioned into acting by the early 2000s; she had a part in the romantic drama Autumn in New York (2000) and a one-episode role in the fourth season of Sex and the City (2002). Her first major role was in the comedy Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003), and she went on to achieve wider recognition playing Rachel Gibson in the final season of the action television series Alias (2005–2006) and for her role in the horror film The Amityville Horror (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Mara</span> American actress (born 1983)

Kate Rooney Mara is an American actress. She is known for work in television, playing reporter Zoe Barnes in the Netflix political drama House of Cards, computer analyst Shari Rothenberg in the Fox thriller series 24 (2006), wronged mistress Hayden McClaine in the FX miniseries American Horror Story: Murder House (2011), Patty Bowes in the first season of the FX drag ball culture drama series Pose (2018), and a teacher who begins an illicit relationship with an underage student, in the FX miniseries A Teacher (2020). For the latter, she received an Independent Spirit nomination for Best New Scripted Series as an executive producer.

<i>The Naked Gun</i> American crime comedy film series

The Naked Gun media franchise consists of several American crime spoof-comedies, based on an original story written by the comedy filmmaking trio Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker. The installments include one television series and three theatrical films. The plot centers on a police detective with a lot of heart, despite being less than intelligent. Leslie Nielsen stars in each installment in the protagonist role of Detective Sergeant Franklin "Frank" Drebin, with a fourth film starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. scheduled for release in 2025. The franchise was met with mostly positive critical reception, and the films were a financial box office success.

<i>Shooter</i> (2007 film) 2007 American action thriller film by Antoine Fuqua

Shooter is a 2007 American action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Jonathan Lemkin, based on the 1993 novel Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter. The film follows Force Recon Marine Scout Sniper veteran Bob Lee Swagger, who is framed for murder by a mercenary unit operating for a private military firm. The film also stars Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Levon Helm, and Ned Beatty.

Captive or Captives may refer to:

<i>Ray Donovan</i> American crime drama television series

Ray Donovan is an American crime drama television series created by Ann Biderman for Showtime. The twelve-episode first season premiered on June 30, 2013.

<i>Selma</i> (film) 2014 film by Ava DuVernay

Selma is a 2014 historical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb. It is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches which were initiated and directed by James Bevel and led by Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams, and John Lewis. The film stars actors David Oyelowo as King, Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Tim Roth as George Wallace, Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King, and Common as Bevel.

<i>Morgan</i> (2016 film) 2016 science fiction psychological horror thriller film by Luke Scott

Morgan is a 2016 science fiction psychological horror thriller film directed by Luke Scott in his directorial debut, and written by Seth Owen. The film features an ensemble cast, including Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Paul Giamatti.

<i>Nightingale</i> (film) 2014 American film

Nightingale is a 2014 American drama film directed by Elliott Lester and written by Frederick Mensch. The film stars David Oyelowo. The film premiered on HBO on May 29, 2015.

<i>Hotel Mumbai</i> 2018 action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras

Hotel Mumbai is a 2018 independent action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras and co-written by Maras and John Collee. An Indian-Australian-American co-production, it is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai about the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

<i>Dont Let Go</i> (2019 film) 2019 American film

Don't Let Go is a 2019 American science fiction horror thriller film written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes. The film stars David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Alfred Molina, Brian Tyree Henry, Byron Mann, Mykelti Williamson, and Shinelle Azoroh. Jason Blum serves as a producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner, alongside Bobby Cohen and Oyelowo.

<i>Body Cam</i> (film) 2020 film by Malik Vitthal

Body Cam is a 2020 American police procedural horror film directed by Malik Vitthal, from a screenplay by Nicholas McCarthy and Richmond Riedel and a story by Riedel. The film stars Mary J. Blige, Nat Wolff, David Zayas, David Warshofsky, Demetrius Grosse and Anika Noni Rose.

<i>Inheritance</i> (2020 film) 2020 American film directed by Vaughn Stein

Inheritance is a 2020 American thriller film directed by Vaughn Stein and written by Matthew Kennedy. The film stars Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, Connie Nielsen, Chace Crawford and Patrick Warburton. Inheritance was released on May 22, 2020, by Vertical Entertainment. It received generally negative reviews from critics.

Studio 8 is an American entertainment company founded in 2014, by Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Mark Miner and based in Culver City. It specializes in film and television production.

Charlie Shotwell is an American actor. He started acting professionally at the age of six. His first notable role being the young Nai Cash in the 2016 comedy-drama film Captain Fantastic for which he received nominations for SAG Awards and Young Artist Awards. He was lead of the Netflix horror film Eli and the coming-of-age psychological thriller John and the Hole, and appeared in the comedy film Troop Zero.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is an American Western television miniseries created by Chad Feehan, who also serves as showrunner, and executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, Feehan, David C. Glasser, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, Christina Alexandra Voros, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, and David Hutkin. It is based on the life of the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, Bass Reeves. The series premiered on Paramount+ on November 5, 2023, with back-to-back episodes.

References

  1. ↑ "CAPTIVE (12A)". British Board of Film Classification . August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ Pamela McClintock (September 16, 2015). "Box-Office Preview: 'Maze Runner: Scorch Trials' Hopes to Sprint Past 'Black Mass'". The Hollywood Reporter . (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Captive (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Kit, Borys (October 15, 2013). "David Oyelowo, Kate Mara to Star in True-Life Thriller Captive (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  5. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 24, 2013). "Boardwalk Empire's Michael K. Williams Gets Captive". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Hipes, Patrick (March 16, 2015). "Captive Starring David Oyelowo & Kate Mara Acquired By Paramount". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Captive Feature Film Starring Kate Mara and David Oyelowo Casting Call for Extras in North Carolina". ProjectCasting.com. October 20, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Will. "Captive trailer: David Oyelowo holds Kate Mara hostage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Captive". Rotten Tomatoes . Flixster . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ "'Captive' Review: Kate Mara and David Oleweyo Thriller Fails to Thrill". TheWrap. September 17, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ Cook, Linda. "Christian audience finally get a captivating film with 'Captive'". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Movie Review: 'Captive' Is Inspiring Re-Telling of 2005 'Purpose Driven' Hostage Crisis" . Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Movie Review: 'Captive' Is Inspiring Re-Telling of 2005 'Purpose Driven' Hostage Crisis" . Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Captive". Metacritic . Metacritic. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.