| Hostile Takeover (1988) Cast:David Warner, Michael Ironside, Kate Vernon, Jayne Eastwood,John Vernon David Warner stars as a mild mannered office worker who decides to take charge of a situation once and for all, this time by taking all of his co-workers hostage along the way during the pressure the hostages start snapping and turning on each other why the other cops try to bring them down in this not always successful but always interesting thriller. Hostile Takeover is definitely not as bad as you would expect, it is indeed one of the most interesting Die Hard style thrillers ever made, not so much because of the action but mainly because it actually goes for more character depth and along the way actually captures it. Indeed let it be said that David Warner holding a gun and taking everyone hostage is probably the most sane person in the building, he fires warning shots sure but he really doesn't intend on hurting anyone. Indeed the irony isn't lost as the movie emerges as it exposes corporate ethics in the office, Vernon's character seduces Warner because she herself tries to take over the situation and turn Warner's machine gun at Ironside for vengeance for him stealing her promotion, while Ironside himself has his wife sleep with his boss to get ahead and Eastwood's character is just a basket case over the death of her aborted baby. Indeed Warner is truly sympathetic in the role of a man who takes hostages because he's lonely and wants company, let it be said that Warner turns in a fine performance as do Vernon, Ironside and Eastwood. All of this is flawed by the stand-off between the cops as the sub-plot is nothing new but whenever Hostile Takeover focuses on the characters trapped in the office, Hostile Takeover develops momentum. Plus the movie is very unpredictable and made even more heinous that Warner's motives aren't really there. D.George Mihalka*** |