Albino Alligator (1996)

While escaping from a foiled robbery attempt, three thieves find themselves surrounded by police at a New Orleans bar--only they're not the people the police are searching for.

Director:

Kevin Spacey

Writer:

Christian Forte

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Dova
Faye Dunaway	...	Janet Boudreaux
Gary Sinise	...	Milo
William Fichtner	...	Law
Viggo Mortensen	...	Guy Foucard
John Spencer	...	Jack
Skeet Ulrich	...	Danny Boudreaux
Frankie Faison	...	Agent Marv Rose
Melinda McGraw	...	Jenny Ferguson
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Dino
Joe Mantegna	...	A.T.F. Agent G.D. Browning
Doug Spinuzza	...	Agent #1
Spencer Garrett	...	Agent #2
Enrico Colantoni	...	Agent #3
Tulsy Ball	...	A.T.F. Agent

Storyline

Three petty thieves who the police believe to be major criminals are chased into a basement bar where they take five hostages including all the bar employees. The rest of the movie deals with the cops lurking outside the bar while the trio try to get hold of the situation inside.

---

Plot Keywords:

police | bar | hostage | new orleans louisiana | animal in title | 

---

Taglines:

Deliberate sacrifice for deliberate gain.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Albiino alligaattori

Filming Locations:

Pensinck & Gordon Toy Wholesalers, 3rd Avenue/Santa Fe Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$188,050, 24 January 1997

Gross USA:

$326,308, 9 February 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albino Alligator Productions,Miramax,Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directing debut of Kevin Spacey.

---

Goofs

Because of the city's proximity to sea level, it is difficult, if not impossible to have underground (basement) dwellings in New Orleans.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Agent #1: Why do I always get the shit-end of these assignment? I'd like to ask that question.
Agent #2: [chuckles] What the hell were you expecting, Bobby, Waco?

---

Connections

References T-Men (1947)

---

Soundtracks

Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good)
Written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Performed by Jimmy Scott, Michael Stipe, Michael Brook & Flea
Used by permission of EMI Mills Music Inc.,
SA Music Co., Fred Ahlert Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Jimmy Scott, Michael Stipe & Flea appear courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Michael Brook appears courtesy of 4AD

User Reviews

An Actor's Movie.

There are movies that are made because the studios know they'll make money. There are the movies that are made because someone believed they would and they held out long enough to get them made. Then there are the "actor's movies," the ones any actor worth his/her salt would love to make themselves. This is Kevin Spacey's "actor's movie." That's not a bad term in the least. The majority of the movie is set inside a New Orleans bar, but the scenery doesn't get tiresome. This is due to the fantastic performances of the cast. I love it when I can watch a movie and forget that the person I'm watching is otherwise known as Gary Sinise, Faye Dunaway, or Viggo Mortenson.

The film is also a classic tale of inhumanity, on how far people need to or will go to save their own skin, on choices. It sounds cliché, but the movie doesn't come across that way in the least. Overall, I recommend the film for a lazy Saturday afternoon, like it was for me.