Proof of Life - December

In a Nutshell - After her husband is kidnapped by rebels in a war-torn Latin American country, Meg Ryan needs $6 million in a hurry to pay his ransom. Still short after a trip to the Coinstar at her local supermarket (okay, not really), she enlists the aid of uppity Roman slave Maximus Decimus Meridius - or rather, hostage negotiator Terry Thorne. (Hey, who cares who he's playing, it's Russell Crowe, all right?)

Potential: Crowe is only the hottest dramatic actor in Hollywood right now, and this is clearly the rugged, intense kind of role he nails every time. Director Taylor Hackford has scored in the past with this sort of action-drama-meets-sexual-tension extravaganza (Against All Odds, An Officer and a Gentleman), so it's a safe bet he can deliver the goods, as long as he dowsn't let the jungle scenery get chewed a la his Devil's Advocate.

Pitfalls: Ryan ain't exactly known for her hard hitting dramatic performances (we're sort of envisioning Sleepless in Ecuador here), but we're willing to keep an open mind. Also, is anyone else freaked out to see that after five years, David Caruso is suddenly back in movies again?

Total Movie says: We freely admit to having a soft spot for movies that involve big ransoms or freelance hostage negotiation, and, hey, whaddya know, Proof of Life has both! Any way you look at it, there's a lot of potential here, and with Crowe driving the action, we're more than willing to go along for the ride.