The Negotiator (1998)

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.

Director:

F. Gary Gray

Writers:

James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Danny Roman
Kevin Spacey	...	Chris Sabian
David Morse	...	Adam Beck
Ron Rifkin	...	Grant Frost
John Spencer	...	Chief Al Travis
J.T. Walsh	...	Terence Niebaum
Siobhan Fallon Hogan	...	Maggie (as Siobhan Fallon)
Paul Giamatti	...	Rudy
Regina Taylor	...	Karen Roman
Bruce Beatty	...	Markus
Michael Cudlitz	...	Palermo
Carlos Gómez	...	Eagle
Tim Kelleher	...	Argento
Dean Norris	...	Scott
Nestor Serrano	...	Hellman

Storyline

In the midst of an elaborate conspiracy, an expert negotiator is driven to the edge when he's framed for the murder of his partner, as well as embezzling money from his department's pension fund. His only chance to prove his innocence is to take hostages himself, acquire the services of another expert negotiator, and find out who's running the conspiracy before it's too late.

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Plot Keywords:

police conspiracy | opening action scene | police shootout | negotiator | police | 

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Taglines:

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.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

El mediador

Filming Locations:

635 South Mateo Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,218,831, 2 August 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$44,484,065, 1 November 1998

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,400,000, 25 October 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises,Mandeville Films,New Regency Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS-Stereo SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kevin Spacey and J.T. Walsh appeared in Dad (1989) and Outbreak (1995). Another link in common between them both is that they played the role of John Williamson in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross: Walsh in the original play, and Spacey in the 1992 film version.

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Goofs

During one of the early negotiating scenes, the clock in the negotiating room shows early afternoon when it is clearly night time.

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Quotes

[Talking to Omar about Pit Bulls]
Lieutenant Danny Roman: There's the right man's best friend and the wrong man's worst enemy.

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Connections

References Shane (1953)

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Soundtracks

Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
(1971)
Performed by Marvin Gaye
Written by Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music

User Reviews

Conventional siege thriller, made better than expected by its actors.

In terms of plot and story development, The Negotiator offers little that is new. It's a very conventional film. However, it gets a much needed injection from its cast, especially the two leads Jackson and Spacey, whose verbal exchanges are exciting and dynamic.

The far-fetched yarn introduces us to Chicago hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson). Roman's partner Nate (Paul Guilfoyle) is brutally murdered just as he is about to expose a bunch of cops who have been stealing from the Disability Fund. All the clues at the scene of Nate's murder point to Roman being the guilty one. Danny is arrested for the killing, but he remains determined to prove his innocence. He violently besieges the Internal Affairs division of the Chicago P.D, taking several hostages at gunpoint, and proceeds to demand that his name be cleared. Hostage negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives on the scene to talk Roman into surrendering his hostages.

The ease with which Jackson's character is framed for a crime he didn't commit is hard to believe, and his subsequent decision to take hostages in order to clear himself stretches credibility to the limit. The solution to the mystery - with the revelation of the real killer coming right at the end - isn't especially believable either. However, improbabilities aside, The Negotiator is an entertaining work. As mentioned, Jackson and Spacey's confrontations are quite dynamic and help to make the film compulsively watchable. Siege thrillers by their very definition are exciting, and this one is no exception. Granted, The Negotiator is totally conventional fare, but within its limitations it remains a well-crafted, absorbing and agreeable offering.