5. Samuel Ramos Plan To Kidnap His Own Daughter - Man On Fire
THE PLAN: In Man On Fire, businessman Samuel Ramos has some serious business debts from all of his important business things and so, in collusion with his attorney Jordan Kalfus, he arranges to have his own daughter kidnapped by some dodgy looking Mexicans. Once the supposed kidnappers demands have been met and the ransom paid, Pita (his daughter) would be returned unharmed and then using the insurance payout, Ramos could help to pay off some of the money he owes.
WHY IT'S STUPID: Obviously this is a plan with a high level of risk attached, especially as Ramos has literally just hired Denzel Washington to shoot people in the face should they attempt the exact thing that he is planning, which seems like an awfully short sighted appointment. Even if his wife was adamant that they need someone to protect their daughter, surely he could have at least hired one of the kidnappers? The main question is though, why not just arrange to have himself kidnapped? This wouldn't even need to involve a shoot out in the street, he could just get a taxi to the kidnappers and play Call Of Duty for a week. His attorney could lean on his wife and advise her that paying the ransom is the best idea and then once he comes home they would get the insurance payout. But no, he messes it up and has to shoot himself because he is too stupid to be allowed to live.