The movie concerning a congressman’s daughter who has been abducted requires Alex Cross to be involved, and events quickly become complicated. What many viewers might miss is that it's a cleverly constructed thriller designed to appear less sophisticated than it actually is, with moments that seem like oddities or humorous asides. You find yourself wondering about certain actions, assuming they’re just minor writing …

It ranks among my favorite films without a doubt. It’s likely the finest mystery thriller I’ve encountered to date.

The story centers on "Cross," portrayed by Morgan Freeman, a detective who has stepped away from his career following a tragic event that resulted in the death of his wife. He’s then pulled back into action when the daughter of a senator—played by Michael Moriarty—is abducted by one of her instructors. The man contacts “Cross” hoping he can assist in recovering the girl, and so the investigation begins. Working along…

This is a decent detective story, though it stretches believability and features a disappointing final twist. D.C.-based forensic psychologist Alex Cross, portrayed by Morgan Freeman, finds himself looking into the kidnapping of a senator’s daughter from her school. The perpetrator is a man fixated on the Lindbergh case, played by Michael Wincott. A Secret Service agent stationed at the school (Monica Potter) offe…