Samuel L. Jackson

Kevin Spacey

David Morse

Ron Rifkin

John Spencer

J. T. Walsh

Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Paul Giamatti

Regina Taylor

Bruce Beatty

Michael Cudlitz

Carlos Gómez

Tim Kelleher

Dean Norris

Nestor Serrano

Doug Spinuzza

Leonard L. Thomas

Stephen Lee

Lily Gibson

Lauri Johnson

Sabi Dorr

Gene Wolande

Rhonda Dotson

John Lordan

Jack Shearer

Donna Ponterotto

Michael Shamus Wiles

Mik Scriba

Joey Perillo

Mary Page Keller

Kelsey Mulrooney

Brad Blaisdell

Bruce Wright

Robert David Hall

Bernard Hocke

Tony Mockus Jr.

Rick Scarry

McNally Sagal

Mary Major

Edwina Moore

James Blackburn

Tom Bower

David Michael Fordham

Paul Guilfoyle

Jack Rooney

Rick Touhy

Spitfire Brown

Maureen Mendoza

S. Lamar Wilson

Diann Burns

Mary Ann Childers

Robert Jordan

Arnon Milchan

Webster Stone

Kevin Fox

David Hoberman

Robert Stone

F. Gary Gray

James DeMonaco

David Nicksay

Graeme Revell

Christian Wagner

Russell Carpenter

Daniel Sudick

David Rubin

Richard C. Goddard

Joel Kramer

Larry J. Aube

Kevin Ishioka

Dino DiMuro

Sharron Reynolds-Enriquez

Karyn McCarthy

Gilbert Carreras

Victoria Wood

Carol A. O'Connell

Holger Gross

Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

Herb Gains

Jeff Wells

Mary Ann Schmidt

Sam Emerson

Aaron A. Akins Jr.

David R. Ellis

Charlie Picerni

Bill Palmer

Chitra F. Mojtabai

Mic Rodgers

Jimmy N. Roberts

Keith Woulard

Randy Popplewell

John T. Scanlon

Randy Walker

Alan Wurtzel

Kay Whipple

Michael A. Patillo

Ronald L. Wright

J. Michael Muro

Anthony Lattanzio

Barbara Ann Spencer

Marietta Carter-Narcisse

John Buckley

Frank Perry Rose

John Lemons

Michael J. Coo

Alicia M. Tripi

Ron Poniewaz Jr.

Neal J. Anderson

Richard Reynolds

Marc Marino

Jason Leeds

Scott Ronnow

A. Todd Holland

Katrina Mastrolia

Lee Blasingame

Joseph T. Mastrolia

Mark Boucher

Louis Lazzara

Lisa Swain

Rick Morris

John Schacht

Mike Sforza

Bethany Andell

Barry K. Thomas

Tom Connole

Russell Williams II

Mark R. Jackson

Glenn Brown

Kirk Bloomberg

Luis G. Hoyos

Tania McComas

Jon Haney

John Fine

Tony Ciccone

Murray Miller

Sara Flamm

Robert A. Levine

Robert L. Stevenson

Scott McGowan

Jeff Verdick

Glenn T. Morgan

Renee D. Czarapata

Victor Ray Ennis

Mark P. Stoeckinger

Michael Brennan

Scott Wolf

Nico Bally

Paul Timothy Carden

Kerry Dean Williams

Jean Nakahara

Richard Dwan Jr.

Cynthia Wise

Action

Crime

Drama

Thriller

The Negotiator

Regency Enterprises

Warner Bros. Pictures

Mandeville Films

Monarchy Enterprises B.V.

Taurus Film

Canada

Germany

United States of America

English

chicago, illinois

corruption

police

hostage

innocence

pension

hostage-taking

murder

conspiracy

bullet wound

urban setting

negotiator

CinemaSerf

Samuel L. Jackson is renowned hostage negotiator "Roman" who is shocked to learn of the murder of his partner. A little further investigation reveals that he had been looking into a multi-million dollar pension fraud. Next thing he knows, "Roman" is being charged with his friend's killing and decides to turn the tables. He goes to the office of the Internal Affairs department, seizes some hostages, barricades himself into the locked office and summons another negotiator "Sabian" (Kevin Spacey) to the scene. What now unfolds is a cleverly crafted detective mystery as the two must overcome their initial professional suspicions of the other, and gradually try to piece together what actually did happen to his pal and to ascertain just who did steal all the cash! It's a good, solid, story this and it's well told with Jackson and Spacey delivering a tale of corruption and mistrust that illustrates just how tough it is to fight back when the very people there to enforce the law are those abusing it. The supporting cast are a bit lacklustre - maybe a bit like an episode of "Hill Street Blues" but it flows well with a tricky denouement that though predictable enough, is quite well executed. It's maybe a bit on the long side, it does take a while to get up an head of steam - but once we get going, it is at the better end of the genre.

The Negotiator is one of those classic thrillers that still holds up well today. The plot is engaging from the start, throwing you into a tense, high-stakes standoff where trust and deception play a big role. The pacing is solid, though it stretches a bit in parts, but the setup and execution make up for it. 

F. Gary Gray's direction keeps the tension tight, balancing action and drama without overcomplicating things. The cinematography isn't flashy, but it works well in capturing the claustrophobic feel of the hostage situation, making you feel right there with the characters.

What really makes this movie stand out is the acting. Samuel L. Jackson delivers an intense, gripping performance that makes it easy to connect with his character and root for him. Kevin Spacey plays off him perfectly, creating a dynamic where their back-and-forth feels natural and engaging. 

The supporting cast is strong too, though some characters feel a bit underdeveloped. The script does a good job keeping the dialogue sharp and the tension high, but at times, it leans into familiar tropes that might feel predictable.

The score and sound design do their job well, enhancing the mood without being too overpowering. While the soundtrack isn't particularly memorable, the way sound is used to heighten key moments is effective. 

Overall, The Negotiator is a well-crafted thriller with strong performances and a gripping story. It might not be flawless, but it delivers where it counts, making it an easy movie to rewatch and appreciate.

The Negotiator (1998) Trailer

The Negotiator( 1998)

He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive.

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Fri Jul 08 2022

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