The Negotiator (1998)

Director:

F. Gary Gray

Writers (WGA):

James DeMonaco (written by) &
Kevin Fox (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Chicago's two top negotiators must face each other. One of them is holding hostages. The other is demanding surrender. And everyone's holding their breath.

Plot:

In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled police negotiator accused of corruption and murder takes hostages in a government office to gain the time he needs to find the truth.

Plot Keywords:

Negotiator | Police | Hostage | Murder | Corruption

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Lt. Danny Roman
Kevin Spacey	...	Lt. Chris Sabian
David Morse	...	Cmdr. Adam Beck
Ron Rifkin	...	Cmdr. Grant Frost
John Spencer	...	Chief Al Travis
J.T. Walsh	...	Insp. Terence Niebaum
Siobhan Fallon	...	Maggie
Paul Giamatti	...	Rudy Timmons
Regina Taylor	...	Karen Roman
Bruce Beatty	...	Markus
Michael Cudlitz	...	Palermo
Carlos Gómez	...	Eagle
Tim Kelleher	...	Argento
Dean Norris	...	Scott
Nestor Serrano	...	Hellman
Doug Spinuzza	...	Tonray
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Allen
Stephen Lee	...	Farley
Lily Nicksay	...	Omar's Daughter
Lauri Johnson	...	Chief's Wife
Sabi Dorr	...	Bartender
Gene Wolande	...	Morewitz
Rhonda Dotson	...	Linda Roenick
Donald Korte	...	Officer at Funeral
Anthony T. Petrusonis	...	Officer at Funeral
John McDonald	...	Pipes and Dreams Leader
Jack McLaughlin-Gray	...	Priest (as Jack McLaughlin Gray)
John Lordan	...	Linda's Attorney
Jack Shearer	...	Dist. Atty. Young
Donna Ponterotto	...	Secretary
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Taylor
Mik Scriba	...	Bell
Joey Perillo	...	Technician #1
Mary Page Keller	...	Lisa Sabian
Kelsey Mulrooney	...	Stacy Sabian
Brad Blaisdell	...	FBI Agent Grey
Bruce Wright	...	FBI Agent Moran
Robert David Hall	...	Sgt. Cale Wangro
Guy Van Swearingen	...	Officer
Bernard Hocke	...	Sniper
Tony Mockus Jr.	...	Agent
Carol-Anne Touchberry	...	Reporter
Robert Jordan	...	Reporter
Geoff Morrell	...	Reporter
Janna Tetzlaff	...	Reporter
Millie Santiago	...	Reporter
Mike Leiderman	...	Reporter
Jay Levine	...	Reporter
Mark Giangreco	...	Reporter
Rick Scarry	...	Reporter
Mary Ingersoll	...	Reporter
McNally Sagal	...	Reporter
Mary Major	...	Reporter
Lynn Rondell	...	Reporter
Edwina Moore	...	Reporter
Lynn Forslund	...	Reporter
Muriel Clair	...	News Anchor
Mary Ann Childers	...	News Anchor
Diann Burns	...	News Anchor
Carla Sanchez	...	News Anchor
Charles Valentino	...	FBI Agent
Robert Baier	...	Officer at KBT
Ted Montue	...	Officer at IAB
John Buckley	...	Detective
Darius Aubry	...	Detective
Steven Maines	...	TAC Officer #4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Blackburn	...	Camera Man (uncredited)
Tom Bower	...	Omar (uncredited)
Percy 'Spitfire' Brown	...	Cop (uncredited)
Wayne Eric	...	Swat Officer (uncredited)
David Fordham	...	FBI SWAT Officer (uncredited)
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Nathan Roenick (uncredited)
Julie O'Malley	...	FBI SWAT Officer (uncredited)
Todd Rheingold	...	SWAT officer (uncredited)
Jack Rooney	...	Fire Department Lieutenant (uncredited)
Rick Touhy	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
F. Gary Gray

Writing credits (WGA)
James DeMonaco		(written by) &
Kevin Fox		(written by)

Produced by
Albert Beveridge	....	co-producer
David Hoberman	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
David Nicksay	....	executive producer
Robert Stone	....	executive producer
Webster Stone	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Russell Carpenter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Christian Wagner

Casting by
David Rubin
Rachel Tenner

Production Design by
Holger Gross

Art Direction by
Kevin Ishioka

Set Decoration by
Richard C. Goddard		(as Richard Goddard)

Costume Design by
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

Makeup Department
Linda Boykin-Williams	....	makeup artist: Chicago
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	makeup supervisor
Lun Yé Hodges	....	hair stylist: Chicago
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist
Tara McCarthy	....	hair stylist: Chicago
Tania McComas	....	makeup supervisor
Carol A. O'Connell	....	hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	supervising hair stylist
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist
Victoria Wood	....	wig maker
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Samuel L. Jackson (uncredited)

Production Management
Kevin Braker	....	production supervisor
Herb Gains	....	unit production manager
Karyn McCarthy	....	assistant unit production manager: Chicago

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jorge L. Baron	....	second second assistant director (as Jorge Baron)
David R. Ellis	....	second unit director: Los Angeles (as David Ellis)
Don H. Julien	....	first assistant director: second unit, Chicago
Joel Kramer	....	second unit director: Chicago
Alicia Lewis	....	dga trainee
Chitra F. Mojtabai	....	second assistant director
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	second unit director: Chicago (as Phil Pfeiffer)
Jason Roberts	....	second assistant director: second unit, Los Angeles
Benjamin Rosenberg	....	first assistant director: second unit, Los Angeles
Barry K. Thomas	....	first assistant director (as Barry Thomas)
Jon Mallard	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Robert Schick	....	second second assistant director: Chicago (uncredited)

Art Department
Aaron A. Akins Jr.	....	propmaker (as Aaron Akins Jr.)
Bethany Andell	....	art department coordinator
Sam Anderson	....	assistant property master
Ron Ashmore	....	paint foreman
Terry Baughman	....	construction coordinator: Chicago
Mark Boucher	....	on-set dresser
Bruce Brewer	....	painter
Alan Broadbent	....	stand-by painter: Chicago
Kenneth Brooks	....	gang boss
David J. Chamerski	....	assistant property master: Chicago
Anthony Ciraolo	....	painter
David Conaghan	....	lead man: Chicago
Cora Lee Coomber	....	construction accountant
Matayas Gila	....	painter
Anthony Godfrey	....	construction floor foreman
Donald Gross	....	painter (as Don Gross)
Harry N. Haase	....	construction painter: Chicago (as Harry Haase)
Paul Harding	....	welder
Richard Hausfeld	....	labor foreman
Keith Haynes	....	welder
Chuck Herrmann	....	set dresser (as Chuck Hermann)
Patrick Hickman	....	gang boss
A. Todd Holland	....	set designer
Luis G. Hoyos	....	lead set designer
Chris Hudecek	....	property assistant: Chicago
Tracy Hutchinson	....	painter
Bruce Jepsen	....	propmaker
Billy L. Joslin	....	gang boss (as Billy Lee Joslin)
Scott Kennedy	....	set dresser
Anthony Lattanzio	....	construction coordinator
Bob Lucas	....	set dresser: Chicago
C.J. Maguire	....	property master
Brett Mangiarelli	....	propmaker
J.D. McCarthy	....	set dresser: Chicago
Jody Miller	....	gang boss
Terry Ballard Miller	....	labor foreman (as Terry L. Miller)
Paul A. Minitello	....	assistant paint foreman
Joel Mitchell	....	welder
Steven O'Bannon	....	labor foreman
James O'Brian	....	welder
Princeton T. Powell	....	propmaker
Rudy Reachi	....	assistant property master
Sandra Renfroe	....	set dresser (as Sandy Renfroe)
Richard Reynolds	....	set designer
Johnny Ruiz	....	propmaker
Mike Rutgard	....	set dresser (as Michael S. Rutgard)
Matt Sanders	....	welding foreman (as Matthew Sanders)
John Schacht	....	leadperson (as John A. Schacht)
Gloria Sevarino	....	painter
Jeremy Sforza	....	propmaker
Mike Sforza	....	construction foreman
Wayne Smith	....	stand-by painter
Barbara Ann Spencer	....	set designer
Ben Sprague	....	art department production assistant
Jim Zemansky	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Neal J. Anderson	....	dialogue editor (as Neal Anderson)
Bill Banyai	....	chief engineer
Bob Baron	....	adr recording mixer
Paul Timothy Carden	....	dialogue editor (as Paul Carden)
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	dialogue editor (as Richard Dwan)
Jörg Elsner	....	additional sound (as Joerge Elsner)
Victor Ray Ennis	....	first assistant sound editor
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	assistant adr editor (as Dana LeBlanc)
Mark Gordon	....	dialogue editor
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Philip A. Hess	....	foley editor (as Phillip Hess)
Hanson Hsu	....	sound engineer
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
Dennis Johnson	....	sound recordist
Randy Kelley	....	additional sound (as Randy Kelly)
Mark R. La Pointe	....	additional sound (as Mark LaPointe)
Lee W. Lebaigue	....	assistant sound editor (as Lee Labaigue)
Dave MacDonald	....	adr recordist
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	dialogue editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Philip D. Morrill	....	digital assistant
Rick Morris	....	sound effects editor
Gary Mundheim	....	foley editor
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Michael A. Patillo	....	boom operator
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Michael A. Reagan	....	sound effects editor (as Michael Reagan)
Blair Scheller	....	boom operator: Chicago
Mark P. Stoeckinger	....	supervising sound editor (as Mark Stoeckinger)
Peter Michael Sullivan	....	additional sound (as Peter Sullivan)
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Russell Williams II	....	production sound mixer (as Russell Williams)
Kerry Dean Williams	....	adr editor (as Kerry Williams)
Scott Wolf	....	sound effects editor
James Wright	....	sound stereo consultant: Dolby (as Jim Wright)
Ronald L. Wright	....	cable person (as Ron Wright)
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Gregory Hainer	....	sound designer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Augenstein	....	special effects technician
Hal Bigger	....	special effects technician
Roger Lifsey	....	special effects technician
John D. Milinac	....	special effects rigger
Robert L. Olmstead	....	special effects foreman (as Robert Olmstead)
Bruce Richter	....	special effects technician
Daniel Sudick	....	special effects supervisor (as Dan Sudick)

Visual Effects by
Thomas Lopatka	....	digital compositing support: main title sequence (uncredited)
Jeff Wells	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
Bruce Benson	....	stunts
Troy Brown	....	stunts
Mike Cameron	....	stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Kiante Elam	....	stunt double: Mr. Jackson
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Cliff Fleming	....	stunts
Cory Fleming	....	stunts
Ralph Gonzalez	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Joel Kramer	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Lambert	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunts (as Rick LeFevour)
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
John Meier	....	stunts
Carl Paoli	....	stunts
Linda Perlin	....	stunts
Randy Popplewell	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
John Scanlon	....	stunts
Randy Walker	....	stunts
Kay Whipple	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts
Alan Wurtzel	....	stunts
Percy 'Spitfire' Brown	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Brennan Dyson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Randy Peters	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pat Romano	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mary Ann Schmidt	....	stunt stand-in (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rebecca Allen	....	video playback assistant
Larry J. Aube	....	grip (as Larry Aube)
Nico Bally	....	grip
Art Bartels	....	key grip: Chicago
Jack Bauer	....	rigging key grip
Sam Bertone	....	electrician: Chicago (as Sam A. Bertone)
Lee Blasingame	....	first assistant camera
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera
Alphonse Blumenthal	....	gaffer: Chicago
Michael Brennan	....	dolly grip (as Mike Brennan)
Glenn Brown	....	second assistant camera
Rick Brown	....	rigging grip: Chicago (as Richard Brown)
John Buckley	....	chief lighting technician
Gary Capo	....	camera operator: second unit
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera: Chicago (as Rob Carlson)
Kimberly Case	....	second assistant camera: Chicago
Tom Cherry	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as Thomas R. Cherry)
Eugene D. Clinesmith	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as Eugene D. Clinesmith III)
Ray Conchado	....	grip
Tom Connole	....	camera operator
Michael J. Coo	....	key grip
Ken Cottengim Jr.	....	grip (as Ken Cottengim)
Sean Patrick Crowell	....	dolly grip: second unit, Los Angeles
Pat Dames	....	second grip: second unit (as James Patrick Dames)
Pat Dames	....	second grip: second unit, Los Angeles
Gerrit Dangremond	....	camera operator: Chicago
John Dumas	....	rigging second company grip
Gary Dunham	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Brad Edmiston	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer
John Fine	....	electrician
Bill Fine Jr.	....	rigging chief lighting technician (as Bill Fine)
Marty Fraser	....	camera operator: news video, Chicago
John P. Friday	....	rigging gaffer: Chicago (as John Friday)
R. Scott Goodrich	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Arthur D. Halverson	....	assistant video assist operator: Chicago
Frank Hanes	....	camera operator: news video, Chicago
Jon Haney	....	electrician
D.J. Harder	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as David J. Harder)
Tom Holloway	....	grip: Chicago (as Thomas B. Holloway)
Steve Irwin	....	24 frame video operator
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera
Stephen Johnstone	....	second electric: second unit, Los Angeles (as Steve R. Johnstone)
Tom Jordan	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Aaron Katz	....	video assist operator: second unit, Los Angeles
David Katz	....	video assist operator
Bob King	....	rigging best boy
Jerry D. Knight	....	second electric: second unit, Los Angeles (as Jerry Knight)
Craig Kohtala	....	second grip
George Kohut	....	camera operator: Chicago
Michael Lange	....	second grip: Chicago
Thomas Lappin	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as Thomas F. Lappin)
Daniel F. Larkin	....	first assistant camera: Chicago (as Dan Larkin)
Jason Leeds	....	electrician
Anthony J. Lullo	....	best boy: Chicago
Michelle M. Mann	....	second assistant camera: Chicago (as Michella Mann)
Marc Marino	....	electrician
Steven Matthys	....	second rigging electrician: Chicago (as Steven C. Matthys)
R. Scott McGowan	....	grip (as Scott McGowan)
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Rob Morey	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Chris Moseley	....	camera operator: second unit, Los Angeles
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
J. Michael Muro	....	camera operator (as James Muro)
Patrick Murray	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Leo J. Napolitano	....	camera operator: second unit, Los Angeles
Troy Osman	....	second grip: Chicago (as Troy O. Osman)
Phil Pastuhov	....	aerial director of photography: Chicago
John Pingry	....	second assistant camera: Chicago (as John C. Pingry)
Ray Pope	....	electrician: Chicago
Craig Price	....	dolly grip: second unit
Scott Ronnow	....	camera loader
Andrew Smith	....	video assist operator: Chicago (as Andrew A. Smith)
Stuart A. Spohn	....	chief lighting technician: second unit, Los Angeles (as Stuart Spohn)
R. Michael Stringer	....	dolly grip: second unit
Mike Torchia	....	video operator: Chicago
Eric Tramp	....	camera operator: second unit, Los Angeles
Renee Treyball	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Susan Turcot	....	dimmer operator
Greg Van Horn	....	electrician: Chicago
Ron Vargas	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Dave Walker	....	key grip: second unit, Los Angeles (as David B. Walker)
Marta Weiss	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as Marta E. Weiss)
Mark Wineman	....	video playback operator
R. Michael Yope	....	second electric (as Michael Yope)
Paolo Cascio	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Bob Gomez	....	electrician: Chicago (uncredited)
Eric Leach	....	electrician: Chicago (uncredited)
Glen Magers	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Brian Rosso	....	grip (uncredited)
Bill Vergos	....	electrician (uncredited)
Christopher Wiggins	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer DeCesare	....	casting assistant
Scott French	....	casting assistant
Oanas Alberto Garcia	....	casting assistant (as Onas Garcia)
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Ronna Kress	....	casting associate
Karen Peake	....	extras casting: Chicago
Siri Sirishambhand	....	casting assistant
Tammy L. Smith	....	extras casting
Rachel Tenner	....	casting consultant: Chicago
Regina Prokop	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Anna Liza Recto	....	casting assistant: New York (uncredited)
Jennifer Ricchiazzi	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jane Blank	....	seamstress: Chicago
Michael Castellano	....	costumer: second unit, Los Angeles (as Michael L. Castellano)
Gloria Coffey-Sharrieff	....	key costumer: Chicago
John Lemons	....	costumer (as John Lemmons)
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	key set costumer
Katrina Mastrolia	....	costumer
Frank Perry Rose	....	costume supervisor (as Frank Rose)
Katherine Wright	....	costumer: Chicago (as Kathryn Wright)
Gina Marie Ome	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gilbert Carreras	....	color timer (as Gil Carreras)
Tony Ciccone	....	additional editor
Laura Lynn Ellinger	....	apprentice editor
Jeannie Burns Hardie	....	post-production assistant
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Joe Mosca	....	assistant editor (as Joseph Mosca)
Fred C. Vitale	....	first assistant editor
Steve Kraus	....	editing systems technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Dell Hake	....	additional orchestrator (as Delle Hake)
Paul Haslinger	....	music arranger
Paul Haslinger	....	music programmer
John Kurlander	....	scoring mixer
Gregg Nestor	....	music preparation
Graeme Revell	....	music score producer
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
Clifford J. Tasner	....	additional orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Brian Williams	....	music designer
Joshua Winget	....	music editor (as Josh Winget)
Patti Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor
Ashley Revell	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joseph A. Alfano	....	driver: Chicago
Michael J. Barcal	....	driver: Chicago
Bridgett Baron	....	transportation office coordinator: Chicago
Sheridan Ross Batson	....	driver (as Sheridan Batson)
Anthony Belmonte	....	driver: Chicago
Gene Biernot	....	driver (as Eugene Biernot)
Brumby Broussard	....	transportation assistant
Joseph Bruno	....	driver: Chicago
Scott Buckingham	....	driver: Chicago
Charles B. Burandt	....	driver: Chicago
Leonard T. Casey Sr.	....	driver: Chicago
Victor W. Chin	....	driver: Chicago
James M. Clarke	....	transportation assistant
Guy DeSimone	....	driver: Chicago
Bobby Enriquez	....	driver
Michael J. Farej	....	driver: Chicago
Keith Filkins	....	driver: Chicago
Johnny Gomez	....	driver: Chicago
Steve Hardy	....	driver: set dressing car, Chicago (as Steven Hardy)
William F. Hogan	....	transportation coordinator: Chicago (as Billy Hogan)
Brian Kahn	....	driver
Brian Kennedy	....	driver: Chicago
Kenny Koons	....	driver: Chicago
Tony Lizio	....	driver: Chicago
Joseph Losavio	....	driver: Chicago (as Joseph M. Losavio)
Howie Mandel	....	driver (as Howard Mandel)
Sheila Mandel	....	transportation assistant
Michael J. Martin	....	driver: Chicago
Jaymes S. Matsurak	....	driver: Chicago
Danny Maxwell	....	transportation captain: Chicago
Pat McGowean	....	driver: Chicago
Larry McKisic	....	driver: Chicago
William J. Novelli	....	driver: Chicago
William E. Palmer	....	driver (as Billy Palmer)
Peter Pantaleo	....	driver: Chicago
Randy Peters	....	transportation coordinator
Joe Polizzi	....	driver: Chicago
Anthony Pomonis	....	driver: Chicago
Ron Poniewaz	....	transportation captain
Darien Reid	....	driver: Chicago
Charles Renfroe	....	driver
Othar D. Richey II	....	transportation assistant (as Othar D. Richey)
Brian A. Ruiz	....	driver: Chicago
John Schmidt	....	driver: Chicago (as John A. Schmidt)
Howard Taft	....	driver
Robert Turko	....	driver: Chicago
Daniel Valente	....	driver: Chicago
Jeff Verdick	....	transportation captain
Jay Weintraub	....	driver: Chicago
Michael Zebell	....	driver: Chicago
Thomas O'Donnell	....	mobile lighting operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Ed Arneson	....	technical advisor: police (as Sergeant Ed Arneson)
Darius Aubry	....	assistant: Mr. Gray
Brian D. Austin	....	first aid
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Shauna Beal	....	assistant: Mr. Milchan
Michael Beavers	....	craft service: Chicago
Marla L. Blanton	....	production office assistant: Chicago
Angelique Bones	....	production assistant
Officer Bob Brannon	....	technical advisor: police
Brady Breen	....	assistant location manager: Chicago
Cookie Carosella	....	assistant: Mr. Hoberman
Mark Chambers	....	first aid
Marila Chappelle	....	post-production accountant
Daniel Joseph Chester	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Michael Choi	....	set production intern: Chicago
Neetu Chopra	....	assistant production coordinator: Chicago
Sam Clark	....	stand-in: Chicago
Steve Cudzilo	....	location assistant: Chicago
Renee D. Czarapata	....	payroll accountant
Bonnie Daniels	....	production controller
Carlo De Rosa	....	set intern
Scott Devereaux	....	assistant location manager
Nelson Drake	....	production assistant
Leslie Anne Engel	....	assistant production coordinator: Chicago
Missy Eustermann	....	first assistant accountant
Sara Flamm	....	production office assistant
Cliff Fleming	....	aerial coordinator: Chicago
Humberto Flores	....	catering assistant
Marty Fraser	....	script supervisor: Chicago
Jamala Gaither	....	production assistant
Will Gatlin	....	craft service: Chicago
Nena Girsch	....	assistant location manager: Chicago
Damon Glaspie	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Melissa Hendricks	....	assistant: Mr. Gay
David Henri	....	assistant: Mr. Nicksay
Don J. Hug	....	location manager: Chicago
Amy James	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Kyle Jetton	....	caterer
Robin Jorden	....	set production assistant: second unit, Los Angeles
Jerry Katz	....	projectionist
Andy Kim	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Vanessa Lanier	....	extras coordinator: Chicago
Robert A. Levine	....	unit publicist
Tracy Loudon	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Pat Lydon	....	second assistant accountant: Chicago
Brian Michaels	....	assistant: Mr. Gray
Murray Miller	....	location manager
Miguel Mojica	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Melody L. Moses	....	set production assistant: Chicago
David Muscatine	....	second assistant accountant
Jean Nakahara	....	production secretary
Charlene Norman	....	production coordinator: Chicago
Melissa Nusbaum	....	accounting assistant: Chicago
Elizabeth O'Donnell	....	accounting clerk
Noel Olken	....	production office assistant: Chicago
Bettina Tendler O'Mara	....	product placement (as Bettina O'Mara)
Jeremy Oswald	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Connie Papineau	....	script supervisor: second unit, Los Angeles
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service
Rozzana Ramos	....	assistant: Mr. Milchan (as Rozzana I. Ramos)
Edward J. Reardon	....	first aid: Chicago (as Ed Reardon)
Sharron Reynolds	....	script supervisor (as Sharron Reynolds-Enriquez)
Theresa Rubino	....	assistant production coordinator
James Sabatini	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Ericka N. Shane	....	accounting assistant: Chicago
Triby Sheeser	....	assistant: Mr. Hoberman
Roy Siber	....	craft service: Chicago
Gerrick T. Smith	....	production office assistant: Chicago
Lisa Swain	....	production coordinator
Leonard L. Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Jackson (as Leonard Thomas)
Patrick Tillmann	....	set production assistant: Chicago (as Patrick M. Tillman)
Randy Walker	....	technical advisor: police (as Officer Randy Walker)
Zelig Walters	....	craft service (as Zelig 'Wally' Walters)
Phillippa Weaver	....	production assistant
Mike Welch	....	assistant: Mr. Spacey
Mono Wilborn	....	set production assistant: Chicago (as Monoleto Wilborn)
Brian Williams	....	assistant: Mr. Revell
Cynthia Wise	....	production accountant
Jennifer Wojic	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer: main title sequence (uncredited)
Lori Freitag-Hild	....	compositor: main title (uncredited)
Harry Lu	....	armorer (uncredited)
Scott A. Martin	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Sunni-Ali Powell	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Todd Rheingold	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Rick Shuster	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Warren Smith	....	production supervisor: re-shoots, Los Angeles (uncredited)
Chuck Speed	....	production legal (uncredited)
Ian Zander	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Rich Moskal	....	thanks (as Richard Moskal)
Jim Runion	....	thanks
Ron VerKuilen	....	thanks
J.T. Walsh	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Regency Enterprises (presents)
• Mandeville Films
• New Regency Pictures
• Monarchy Enterprises B.V.
• Taurus Film (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United Motion Pictures (1999) (Egypt) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2002) (USA) (TV)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (200?) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• SBS6 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Mirage Inc.
• Pacific Titles & Optical

Other Companies

• Executive Assurance  security
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Call The Cops  police technical advisors
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies (as Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment)
• Imaginary Forces  main title sequence designed by
• J.L. Fisher  camera cranes and dollies (as J.L. Fisher)
• Location Lodging Worldwide  travel and accommodations
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd.  Musco light provided by (as Musco Mobile Lighting)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Restless Records  soundtrack
• Skytel  pagers and paging service
• TM Equipment Rentals  grip and lighting equipment (as TM Motion Picture Equipment Rentals)
• Technicolor  color timing

Also Known As:

Verhandlungssache (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #36071) | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

77 W. Wacker Drive, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

The movie was originally written to star Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Spacey. Spacey was supposed to be the hostage-taker and Stallone playing opposite him. When Stallone turned down the part, Spacey decided he wanted the other part and had his original part recast. (Samuel L. Jackson got the role.)

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the film the police cut the power cables with bolt cutters when they simply could have thrown the switch. Also the junction box they were in is actually an emergency power breaker meant to switch on an emergency diesel generator in the event of a power failure.

Quotes:

Rudy Timmons: Why d'you always pick on me? What am I, Charlie Brown?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hostage (2005/I)

Soundtrack:

Cotton-Eye Joe

The Good & The Bad Of The Negotiator

The GOOD - The movie sports an interesting cast, actors who usually entertain, such as Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson, J.T. Walsh, David Morse and Paul Giamatti. Spacey, as "The Negotiator," has the best role. The story is interesting and very intense in spots and keeps you involved without the need for a lot of violence. There is just the right amount in here and the film looks good on DVD. In fact, the DVD transfer elevates this film another "star."

The BAD - At 138 minutes, the film would have been better being trimmed 10-15 minutes. It could also been less profane. Over 70 f-words is too many. I get tired of seeing cops portrayed as dirty most of the time or just trigger-happy. It ain't so, at least as often as Hollywood likes to show you. Finally, the end stretches credibility just a little too much.

Overall, worth seeing but with a big caution light with the language.