Proof of Life

Proof of Life is a 2000 American action thriller film directed and produced by Taylor Hackford. The title refers to a phrase commonly used to indicate proof that a kidnap victim is still alive. The films screenplay was written by Tony Gilroy, who also was a coexecutive producer, and was inspired by William Prochnaus Vanity Fair magazine article Adventures in the Ransom Trade, and Thomas Hargroves book The Long March To Freedom in which Hargrove recounts how his release was negotiated by Thomas Clayton, played by Russell Crowe, who went on to be the founder of kidnapforransom consultancy Clayton Consultants, Inc.

Alice Bowman Meg Ryan moves to the fictional South American country of Tecala because her husband, Peter David Morse, has been hired to assist with building a dam. Though Alice is unhappy at this most recent move, she agrees to stay. When Peter is in the city one day, a convoy of automobiles including his is ambushed by guerrilla rebels of the Liberation Army of Tecala ELT. Believing that Peter actually works for an oil pipeline company, ELT soldiers abduct him and lead him into the countrys jungles.Terry Thorne Russell Crowe, an Australian former member of the British SAS, arrives in Tecala, fresh from a successful hostage rescue in Chechnya. Because of his expert skill in kidnappingandransom cases, he is hired by Peters company to assist in bringing about Peters safe return. Unfortunately, it turns out that Peters company actually has no insurance coverage for kidnapping, so they cannot afford Thornes services. Despite Alices pleas to stay, Thorne leaves the country. Alice gets teamed up with a local hostage negotiator, who immediately urges her to pay the ELTs first demand a 50,000 good faith ransom payment. Not knowing what to do, Alice agrees, but the transaction is stopped by Thorne, who, following his conscience, has returned to help. He is aided by Dino David Caruso, an exGreen Beret. ........

Source: Wikipedia