Stolen
Directed by Simon West
- action
- crime
- thriller
The story
Master thief Will Montgomery is just released from the State penitentiary after serving a 10 year sentence, is contacted by Vincent, his ex comrade in crime, who is holding Will’s teenage daughter ransom in a hijacked taxi cab. Vincent will only surrender her when Will reveals the whereabouts of the 20 million dollars he contrived to conceal from their last robbery.
What it’s like
Saturated Mardi Gras color and tight, jittery camera work set the pace, with the city's purple, green and gold glowing through night streets and the cramped, sweaty interior of a hijacked cab. Much of it plays out in headlights and sodium-orange glare, with rain-slicked asphalt and bursts of fireworks-bright carnival crowds. The sound is loud and kinetic: engine roar, sirens, pounding percussion and a driving score that rarely lets up. The vibe is slick, adrenaline-fuelled tension with a streak of wry humour, best for a Friday night or a loose, half-attentive watch. Its intensity is moderate: frequent gunfire, car chases and crashes, some brawling and fist fights, and a constant threat to a kidnapped teenager, but little gore and no sexual content. The emotional throughline is a wary, hard-edged father slowly reconnecting with his daughter under pressure. It suits viewers who want a kinetic, fast-cut crime caper with a clear father-daughter core and don't need quiet, lingering scenes.
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