When New Orleans based thief Will Montgomery and colleagues rob a bank things don't go according to plan. The cops close in and his associates abandon him; he has the ten million dollars they stole but when the police arrest him there is no sign of it. He spends eight years in jail and both the FBI and his former friends suspect he will go for the money. Instead he goes to see his now teenaged daughter, Alison... she is less keen to see him though and catches a cab to school. Unfortunately for her it is driven by Will's former associate Victor, a bitter man determined to get his money. He kidnaps Alison and gives Will twelve hours to get him ten million dollars. Since Will destroyed the money to avoid being caught with it he has to either find Vincent or steal another ten million dollars.
If you are looking for something new then you won't find it here; however if you just want a by the number action thriller you could do a lot worse. The story might not be that original but it delivers plenty of exciting action, there is a near constant sense of urgency and tension once Alison has been kidnapped and there is a modicum of humour... I'm sure the boss of the taxi company was based on Danny DeVito's character in 'Taxi'! The action includes running through New Orleans during Mardi Gras, shootings, car chases and a fight in a pool of burning petrol. Nicolas Cage is of good form as Will although unfortunately he never gets to 'turn it up to eleven' the way he can do. Josh Lucas is delightfully disturbing as Vincent and young Sami Gale is solid as Alison. The rest of the cast are pretty good too. Overall I wouldn't call this a must see but it is definitely worth watching if you enjoy the genre.
If you are looking for something new then you won't find it here; however if you just want a by the number action thriller you could do a lot worse. The story might not be that original but it delivers plenty of exciting action, there is a near constant sense of urgency and tension once Alison has been kidnapped and there is a modicum of humour... I'm sure the boss of the taxi company was based on Danny DeVito's character in 'Taxi'! The action includes running through New Orleans during Mardi Gras, shootings, car chases and a fight in a pool of burning petrol. Nicolas Cage is of good form as Will although unfortunately he never gets to 'turn it up to eleven' the way he can do. Josh Lucas is delightfully disturbing as Vincent and young Sami Gale is solid as Alison. The rest of the cast are pretty good too. Overall I wouldn't call this a must see but it is definitely worth watching if you enjoy the genre.