MovieChat Forums > Captive (2015) Discussion > Questionable movie, but I'll give Jerry ...

Questionable movie, but I'll give Jerry Jameson credit . . .

posted 9 years ago by Coolestmovies
14 replies | jump to latest

. . . Dude's 80 and his latest movie appears to be getting a theatrical release. Sure, he's no George Miller reinventing Mad Max at 70, but still. Mind you, this is all probably more due to Oyelowo and Mara being in Captive than anything, but seriously, how did these two, at the crest of their popularity, get rooked into what appears to be a Christian movie made by a faith-based producer? Jameson is still a surprise. I don't think he got a fair shake with Raise The Titanic 35 years ago, but that film relegated him instantly to TV movies and DTV features ever since, so this going out under Paramount's banner is quite a coup. Then again, the market for Christian films is JUST big enough in the U.S. that producers can justify a modestly budgeted flick like this, and naturally the studios want in on that action. And Jameson probably works cheap.

Still, the guy Oyelowo plays in this is an absolute piece of human unrepentant excrement, so it's hard to see how a movie about some random ex-junkie captive reading a few pages of a wispy-washy religious self-help book to him can actually be considered uplifting or even necessary.

[–] lauriegonzalez11 9 years ago

I guess you'll have to wait and see how it turns out. Maybe you'll be surprised. From a Christian point of view, a book can't save someone but God could use the words in the book to reach someone.

[–] ceciliaquesenberry 9 years ago

Based on your perception of the movie by your commentary, after seeing the advance screening of this movie, I can tell you rest assured all your fears will dissipate the first 10 seconds into the movie. Thrilling and suspenseful in a gritty way. This movie stands on its own and holds well all the way to the end. It alienates no one and touches upon all our own darkest moments in life. A must see.

[–] Overide35 9 years ago

Please tell me it doesn't paint Brian Nichols in any kind of good light, and just shows him as the monster he is...

[–] Lady_Elaine_Fairchild 9 years ago

If I am not wrong the point of this is that she appealed to his humanity and had she not she would probably be dead.

Its much easier to dismiss him as a monster but the truth is much more complicated and uncomfortable. And unless you find yourself at the end of your rope accused of a crime you didn't commit --how can you say what you would and wouldn't do. Morals are a benefit of the rich and privileged. Most of us would have to take a deal with the devil.
Morals slowly ebb away when you are hungry, when your children are hungry, you nee shelter..(just using that as an example I realize its not a part of the movie)

Like a cornered animal he did horrific things but as she has said he was raised by someone who at least tried to instill values in him--I just think its a good idea to remember how she accomplished this (humanizing herself) using his name, acting like she was on his side, appeasing him, talking about her troubles her child etc,, it may help someone someday.

Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one. B. Franklin

[–] HumanFundRecipient 9 years ago

Well said.

Not to decrease any significance of the events this movie is based on, but in many more incidents than this one, whether they occurred over a long period of time or in one sudden instance, there are much worse individuals than the one Oyelewo plays.

It don't matter who you hear it from. It's the same story.

[–] m_mayhem 9 years ago

There are rumors that there is more to the story than we will ever know. There are rumors that it wasn't just a chance encounter that landed Nichols on Smith's doorstep. It has been said that they knew each other before the infamous encounter.

Victory is Mine!!!

[–] ozzmark 9 years ago

Rumors aren't worth mentioning.

[–] jenx42 8 years ago

Thrilling and suspenseful in a gritty way.

I must declare a triple "nope" to this. For me at least, there was nothing of the sort in this film.

I describe it as chaotic then meandering in a simplistic way.

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

I have to admit, nothing thrilling or suspenseful about this film.

It's that man again!!

[–] ashleydowney-66480 9 years ago

I read the book that the movie is based on. I also was living in the Atlanta area when this happened. I was almost 13 years old when it happened. I think the movie will be decent.

[–] Bowchickawow 9 years ago

With all due respect, you're working pretty hard at being snide about this... I genuinely don't understand what your issue is with a film that shows how powerful faith in God can be. It seems like it threatens people's need to believe that God, and faith in God, are obsolete. It makes me think of Antony Flew - he was famously, vocally atheist, well before famous vocal atheism was trendy. He renounced his atheism later in life (he didn't become a Christian; he simply reaonsed that there must be a God) and he was on the receiving end of an oil-slick of hate from non-believers, attacking his mental faculties; accusing others of strong-arming him; screaming shrilly that he was senile/ill/mad - despite worshipping at the altar of him merely days before.

What makes you think they got "rooked" into it? For the record, David Oyelowo is a committed born again Christian. Equally, a couple of weekends ago, a Christian film was no.1 at the box office, despite having opened in less than half the theatres of the no.2 - the market for Christian film isn't "JUST big enough"... it's huge. Because there are still millions of people who believe, which is something else non-believers seem desperate to deny.

Do you not see that the way you describe these people truly says more about you than it does them. They're people, with families, feelings, opinions... they are inherently valuable - as are you. So, again, with all due respect (and this is something I would say to a Christian too): unless you're perfect, how about you hop down from that high horse of yours.

[–] StarrKitty 9 years ago

The victims and their families deserve better than this. This religious bullcrap about him being saved is disgusting. This man raped and murdered multiple people and I'm supposed to care why? I don't think so. I knew as soon as I saw that book in the trailer that this movie would sucker all of the religious people in because they want so desperately to believe that even the worst of us can be redeemed? But at what cost? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself or your loved one for someone else's redemption? For them to die in pain and fear? I hope not.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] goonies383 9 years ago

You said

"But when someone encounters God, truly deeply, and they come to faith, they change, from the inside out. What he did was disgusting - his becoming a new person who will never do it again is extraordinary."

Brian Nichols said "I did that (beep) and I?ll do it again,?...?Matter of fact, if I could?ve done something different, I?d have stopped on the third floor and I would?ve shot your (beep.)"

The third floor is the office of the district attorney.

So he clearly didn't become a new or better person nor was he swayed by god in anyway. He was and is still a despicable human being and showed no remorse for what he did.