On March 11, 2005, Brian Nichols, a man arrested for rape, escaped from the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta, where he proceeded to kill four people and seek refuge in the home of a recovering crystal meth addict named Ashley Smith, where he held her hostage whilst he stayed clear of the law. During this time, Smith, who constantly feared for her life, with a young daughter living at her mother's home, used Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" to help change Nichols's ways and become a man emancipated from the shackles of God's sin. Jerry Jameson's film "Captive" helps shed light on the events that took place whilst Smith was a prisoner in her own home, fearing for her life.

"Captive" is likely to get lumped under the category of a faith-based film, somewhat rightfully so, but in the end, it's a character piece at its core. It's a film that really emphasizes human imperfections and how certain situations can lead us down a path of perpetual wrongdoing, or sin, if we're not careful. A key scene in the film comes when Brian (played by David Oyelowo, who shocked with his tremendous portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. earlier in the year in the film "Selma") is holding Ashley's (Kate Mara, who was in last month's "Fantastic Four") head down into a plate of crystal meth, forcing her to take a line after making him take one himself. She refuses, even with a gun to the back of her head, and just as she weeps, thinking she's living the last few moments of her life, Brian loosens the grip on her neck and leaves her unharmed.

Ashley could've easily taken the meth; she would've probably felt the kind of high she long-desired and was trying to break free from this whole time. But something inside her told her to stop, to the point that she'd rather die from a bullet in her skull than from ingesting drugs to get her momentary fix. Brian is in the same position, in a situation not much more extreme than the one Ashley is currently in. He has a choice to either potentially carry on in his ostensibly endless pursuit of killing, carjacking, and destroying more lives than those he has killed, yet he parks at Ashley's house for a reason. She doesn't fight, she doesn't resist, but she simply adheres to his commands and hopes that some sort of positive outcome will come out of this situation.

This is a film made largely by the strength of its central performances. David Oyelowo plunges himself into a violent, unrelenting sociopath with unflinching conviction; the only thing his mean face and persona is missing is a pitbull-esque growl and snarl and he'd be the perfect cinematic murderer. Oyelowo's performance is terrific, and makes me assert that, in the next ten years, he will win an Oscar for one of his performances, supporting or leading (most likely leading); mark my words and place your bets.

Kate Mara shouldn't be ignored either, for she has an arguably more challenging role. Where Oyelowo's performance is largely predicated off of being menacing and violent, Mara's is one that's tender and vulnerable, heartbreakingly so. Put the two leading actors together and they create a strange, but viable chemistry for the film; one the film manages to sustain while it simultaneously forgoes its most important element - suspense. Despite the subject matter, this is a shockingly low-energy film, never rising to its ability to provide credible suspense nor capitalizing off of the inherent tension between its characters.

"Captive" is, above anything else, a film of perfectly played performances, and the fact it underplays its faith themes for more investing elements like character chemistry shows it's intelligence. This is, above all, a human film, about human experiences and shortcomings, and despite the lacking of real suspense, especially with the film's ending, since the buildup largely falls flat, this is a stunningly mature faith-based film, lacking any real sermonizing or guilt in the face of portraying something that will hold up longer than the aforementioned qualities every would.

I found this fact-based film when it was broadcast on Film4, it wasn't rated well, but I liked the sound of it, and it had two good actors in it, so I went for it. Basically, set in 2005, Ashley Smith (Kate Mara) is a single mother struggling with drug addiction. She admits in therapy that taking methamphetamine has lost her custody with her daughter, Paige (Elle Graham), but she hopes for the chance to see her daughter as she moves to a new apartment. On March 11, Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo, also producing) escapes from the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta, during his trial involving a rape case. In the process of his escape, he murders Judge Rowland Barnes (Richard Fullerton), presiding over his trial, as well as court reporter Julie Brandau. While escaping the courthouse, he also shoots Sergeant Hoyt Teasley (E. Roger Mitchell), and then later kills off-duty ICE Special Agent David G. Wilhelm (Rob Bouton) at his home. Nichols becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt, but he has stolen a police walkie-talkie and can monitor them. After stealing several cars and hurting more people, he stops at the home of his ex-girlfriend, and peers through the window to see his new-born baby son. Meanwhile, Ashley is at her new apartment unpacking boxes, and she gives into temptation, taking meth during the process. Nichols, desperate to find somewhere to hide, holds Ashley at gunpoint and enters her apartment. She becomes captive in her own home, as he ties her up in the bathroom while he has a drink, has a shower and she offers him some clothes. Ashley is petrified but tries to remain calm and they have some conversation. He asks her for drugs, and she supplies him with her meth, but she refuses to take it herself, even when ordered at gunpoint. Ashley asks to go the bathroom, and tries to escape through the window, but she is unable to open it. Nichols notices Ashley's book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and asks her to read it aloud. Meanwhile, Lieutenant John Chestnut (Michael Kenneth Williams) leads the search for Nichols. He attempts to contact the escaped criminal on the walkie-talkie, trying to convince him to turn himself in, mentioning his new-born son's name, Christopher. Watching television, Nichols sees reports that police are looking for the last vehicle he stole, and he wants Ashley to help him get away from the area. She drives in her car as he follows, and there is a point where she momentarily breaks down and stranger offers help. But she makes an excuse, as Nichols is watching, the stranger drives away and they return to the apartment. Ashley constantly mentions that she must meet her daughter the following day, or she may lose all contact with her. The next morning, Ashley makes pancakes and reads more of the book out loud. Ashley again mentions her urgency to leave the house and tells him that she is slowly making her way to the door, but he makes no effort to stop her. Ashley drives away, and on the journey calls the police to report what has happened. Following the brief conversation on the walkie-talkie, and Ashley's call, the police pinpoint Nichols' location to Ashley's apartment. The place is surrounded by Chestnut and the police, along with an armed SWAT team, and Ashley is there as well. Chestnut tries to make Nichols come out, with no effect, and Ashley takes the loud hailer to convince him to give himself up. Chestnut warns him that the forces will be coming in any moment, but Nicholas comes out waving a white flag (a handkerchief) and surrenders. In the end, as Nichols is apprehended, Aunt Kim (Mimi Rogers) is relieved to see Ashley safe and sound, and happily reunited with Paige. The epilogue explains that Brian Nichols is serving time in prison but hopes one day to meet his son, and that following her ordeal, Ashley never took drugs again, made a better life for herself and her daughter, and found new love and had more children. The end credits show the real Ashley Smith being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey about the events. Also starring Leonor Varela as Detective Carmen Sanchez, and Jessica Oyelowo (David's wife) as Meredith MacKenzie. It is fair to say that some of the script is a bit predictable, and the end credits are ruined by a gospel song, but Oyelowo as the man on the run and Mara as the troubled mother being held hostage both give great performances, and it is just about engaging enough, not a bad crime thriller based on a true story. Okay!