The Omega Man wrote in with his review of THE NEGOTIATOR test screening. I believe the film is scheduled to come out in August, but here's an advance look. There are spoilers in the review, but do know that the reviews have been being over whelmingly good on this film, but then how could a film with both Samuel L Jackson and Kevin Spacey be anything but cool? I don't know, and for know that's a question none of us can answer, save with the phrase... ISHTAR 2.
The Omega Man here, I last scooped you on U.S. Marshalls a couple months back, you have no idea how happy it made me that I could finally be involved with your operations, I have been a fan for what seems forever. Well I just got back from a private advance screening of The Negotiator over at the dubba u bee. (Dave Bogart was the password btw) It stars Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey, I think it's coming out in either July or August, at least that's what I overheard, and man this movie should be a pretty good surprise. I doubt it will make more than $100 mil, you know WB's track record, but I'd guess it should do a modest $60-80, though I think it deserves more.
Think The Fugitive meets Die Hard. But this movie has some good drama, suspense, and character. I don't want to give too much away so just the facts. Jackson stars as Danny Roman, he's the star negotiator for Chicago PD and the movie opens with a great scene where he basically saves the day. Soon afterwards his partner tells him he's got an informant who knows something about money that was stolen from the police disability fund. It's a pretty big deal because it looks like it's an inside job. Needless to say the partner is killed five minutes after that and guess who is set up to take the fall? Of course, need I say it? Roman. There, I said it. Well after he realizes that there's no way out Roman takes four poeple hostage on one of the top floors of a skyscraper, his chief, a computer crook (played very well by the guy who played Kenny in Private Parts- I like this guy why isn't he in more films?), a secretary, and the head of internal affairs (who just so happens to have evidence pointing his way-hint hint). Roman demands that another negotiator named Chris Sabian is called in from a different precinct, and it happens to be Kevin Spacey in a great role. Roman's reasoning for this is that Sabian shouldn't be in on the take so to speak because he's from another precinct. Most of the best parts of the movie consist of Roman defeating the police at their own, or should I say his own game.
Jackson and Spacey were perfect choices for the roles, much of the action is character dialogue driven, Jackson slips into his Pulp Fiction speaking mode on more than one occasion, and that alone makes it worth the price of admission. But there's also some great action sequences involving the police trying to break in and kill Roman. The best thing this film has going for it besides the great dialogue is the mystery. There's a couple of plot twists, at times it reminded me of L.A. Confidential though, probably Spacey's fault, but it had a satisfying conclusion. The audience laughed numerous times and applauded at the end.
The version I saw was definetly not the final edit, there was a temp track featuring mostly Crimson Tide that was adequate, but I could see where I think they are going to fiddle with the movie, once the action gets to the building it's all locked up for sure, from there it was a four star, no getting up if you have to go to the bathroom action thriller. Basically the only problem I saw was the begining, they spend a great deal of time making you interested in Jackson's character, so much that the actual hostage situation dosen't start until about 40 min into the movie, hopefully they'll speed it up a little bit and get right to it, but I guess it's one of those catch-22's, they need to make you care about the character otherwise you won't be involved with the film. I would say the partner's funeral scene was way too long as well as a standard scene featuring all the cops drinking in a bar and dancing. But hey, once the movie got started I was on the edge of my seat at least 4 times. If you get a chance check this movie out, it's gonna be a modest surprise hit I think.
Last man on earth signing off... "Wawazat!!"
