the fresh films reviews

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The Negotiator (1998)

Director:
F. Gary Gray

COUNTRY
USA

Genre
Crime/Thriller

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Forhandleren

RUNNING TIME
140 minutes

Producer:
David Hoberman
Arnon Milchan

Screenwriter:
James DeMonaco
Kevin Fox


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Lieutenant Danny Roman Samuel L. Jackson
Lieutenant Chris Sabian Kevin Spacey ½
Commander Adam Beck David Morse
Commander Grant Frost Ron Rifkin ½
Chief Al Travis John Spencer -
Inspector Terence Niebaum J. T. Walsh ½
Maggie Siobhan Fallon -
Rudy Paul Giamatti
Karen Roman Regina Taylor -

 

Review

Samuel L. Jackson plays a hostage negotiator who after being framed for murder suddenly finds himself on the other side of the proceedings, having to deal with another negotiator (Kevin Spacey) to prove his innocence. This is an industrious and fairly tight suspense film from director F. Gary Gray, who is almost able to hinder the overplotted script from coming off as contrived. Only in the film's finale are we served the 1990s thriller formula of suddenly changing personalities and last-minute interceptions in slow motion. Jackson gives a wholehearted performance in the lead, matched only by Paul Giamatti in one of his vibrant early roles.

Copyright © 05.04.2021 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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