Taken With Him

Author(s): Matthew Karlan
Location: Ireland

“Taken With Him"

Directed by Michael Haneke
Written by Tonino Benacquista and Michael Haneke
Original Music by Giba Goncalves

Principal Cast:

Martin Jacobson – Patrick Wilson
Audrey Quinn – Mena Suvari
Tommy Carr – Sam Rockwell
Samuel Quinn – Rip Torn

Tagline: "A good kidnapper moves fast. But love moves faster"

Synopsis: The movie starts as Martin Jacobson and Tommy Carr break into the Quinn estate of New Hampshire and kidnap the eldest daughter, Audrey. They are extremely rough as they stuff her into the trunk of their El Camino and drive off almost unnoticed. Tommy, the leader of the two, calls the estate and gives their demands and the details of how they want the money drop to go down. Everything seems to be going perfectly.

Tommy leaves to speak with their contact who will perform the drop, leaving Martin alone with Audrey, who has a black burlap sack on her face and is bounded with rope to a creaky wooden chair. Martin gives Audrey the rules. Just be quiet and don’t move and nothing bad will happen to her. But Audrey cannot be quiet, she has a confession. She has fallen in love with Martin. She has never seen him, but his voice was enough. Martin is an experienced kidnapper and he knows not to fall for something like that. But as Audrey continues professing her love, how she has always wanted an assertive man like him since her parents only set her up with meek bachelors, how the way he stuffed her in the trunk was so sexy, Martin can see she is actually in love. And then suddenly, out of nowhere, it becomes mutual.

Martin runs over to her chair, pulls the bag off of her face, and passionately kisses her. They discuss their plans for the future, all the while Audrey is still tied to the wooden chair. Audrey will wire some funds to a remote island and they will live in paradise. Martin even reveals his name to her, something he earlier said was one of the forbidden laws of kidnapping. But they are truly in love so it does not matter.

But Audrey begins to move too fast. She discusses their marriage ceremony and what they should name their multiple future children. Martin cannot handle all this and needs a drink. Audrey calls him an alcoholic. Martin screams back expletives. They fight, exposing every fault they have learned about one another in the short time they’ve been together. Martin says he no longer loves her and puts the black burlap sack back on her face as she convulses with tears. Audrey pleads to stay with her, but it is too late. Martin’s heart has been broken. He cannot stand to hear her anymore, it hurts him too much. So he pulls out his pistol and shoots her in the head.

Martin kneels down and weeps for his fallen love. Then Tommy finally returns to this scene. And he’s confused and angry, but mostly angry. Because Tommy wants his money and knows Samuel Quinn wants his daughter. Because Samuel Quinn will have them brutally murdered if he doesn’t get her back. Because he can explicitly see what it looks like to be brutally murdered and he would like to avoid that.

What the press would say:

“It had all of the stages of any failed relationship. It started off looking so promising and ended in a bloody mess.” – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Michael Haneke, director of such films as Cache, throws his hat into the American film ring with Taken With Him. And here’s to hoping it stays in the ring. Haneke makes this film about the strangest of loves into something beautiful. Haneke and Tonino Benacquista of The Beat That My Heart Skipped, have written a screenplay that is full of tension, but also has endearing moments. States of calm are constantly being established and disrupted, which will certainly leave audiences gasping in surprise. But the screenplay also does not shy away from the inherent humor that comes with such a farfetched relationship. It dissects the typical relationship in its glory and its downfall. Haneke brings back old friend Giba Goncalves for the score and one can tell they had worked together in the past, as the music seamlessly transitions with the film, setting the appropriate emotion for each scene.

Haneke typically does not work with an American cast, but he still formed an arena for stellar performances across the board. Suvari turns in her best performance since American Beauty, playing the wealthy daughter, head-over-heels in love for her captor. And Patrick Wilson’s performance will certainly garner award recognition. The screenplay calls for him to recklessly change emotional states and he does it with ease. Taken With Him is for those who believe in the power of love, and for those who see two young lovers on the street and wish someone would just shoot them in the head.

Possible Nominations

Best Picture
Best Actor – Patrick Wilson
Best Actress – Mena Suvari
Best Supporting Actor – Sam Rockwell
Best Director – Michael Haneke
Best Original Screenplay – Michael Haneke and Tonino Benacquista
Best Original Score – Giba Goncalves