Captive

The true story of psycho killer Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo), who shot his way out of an Atlanta courthouse after murdering a judge, then took meth-addicted single mother Ashley Smith (Kate Mara) hostage in her own apartment—with her only comfort a book she never wanted, Christian writer Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. Writer Brian Bird and director Jerry Jameson, adapting Smith's book, don't gloss over the message of religious redemption that underlies her story, but they don't preach at us either. They let the story, both fascinating and inspiring, speak for itself, and leave the rest to Mara and Oyelowo, each of them perfectly cast, with good screen chemistry, and giving strong performances. Also strong are Mimi Rogers as Smith's Aunt and Michael K. Williams as the detective on the case.