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Spartan

  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
32K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Val Kilmer in Spartan (2004)
Trailer
Play trailer2:07
1 Video
42 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama

The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking US government official.The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking US government official.The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking US government official.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
32K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Mamet
  • Writer
    • David Mamet
  • Stars
    • Val Kilmer
    • Derek Luke
    • William H. Macy
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Mamet
  • Writer
    • David Mamet
  • Stars
    • Val Kilmer
    • Derek Luke
    • William H. Macy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 255User reviews
    • 100Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Spartan
    Trailer 2:07
    Spartan

    Photos42

    Vincent Guastaferro and Ed O'Neill in Spartan (2004)
    Clark Gregg and Ed O'Neill in Spartan (2004)
    William H. Macy and Ed O'Neill in Spartan (2004)
    Lorey Sebastian
    Jim Bridges
    Lorey Sebastian
    Lorey Sebastian
    Val Kilmer and Kristen Bell in Spartan (2004)
    Lorey Sebastian
    Lorey Sebastian
    Lorey Sebastian
    Lorey Sebastian

    Top cast

    Edit
    Val Kilmer
    Val Kilmer
    • Scottas Scott
    Derek Luke
    Derek Luke
    • Curtisas Curtis
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Stoddardas Stoddard
    Tia Texada
    Tia Texada
    • Jackie Blackas Jackie Black
    Jeremie Campbell
    Jeremie Campbell
    • Cadre Candidateas Cadre Candidate
    Bob Jennings
    Bob Jennings
    • Grace's Aideas Grace's Aide
    Lionel Mark Smith
    • Colonel Blaneas Colonel Blane
    Johnny Messner
    Johnny Messner
    • Graceas Grace
    Chris LaCentra
    Chris LaCentra
    • Cpl. Sattleras Cpl. Sattler
    • (as Chris J. Lacentra)
    Renato Magno
    • Grossleras Grossler
    Mark FitzGerald
    • Training Facility Guardas Training Facility Guard
    Tony Mamet
    • Parkeras Parker
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Milleras Miller
    Ron Butler
    Ron Butler
    • Headquarters Agentas Headquarters Agent
    Steven Culp
    Steven Culp
    • Gainesas Gaines
    • (as Stephen Culp)
    Vincent Guastaferro
    Vincent Guastaferro
    • Nayloras Naylor
    Robert Bella
    Robert Bella
    • Davioas Davio
    Lana Bilzerian
    • Undercover Agentas Undercover Agent
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writer
      • David Mamet
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the U.S. government's special-ops, Scott is a shooter, not a planner, doing the job with no regard to quaint or obsolete convention. When a Harvard undergrad (daughter of a U.S. leader) goes missing, Scott applies the pressure, first to her boyfriend, then to a madam whose cathouse is the initial stop en route to a white-slavery auction in Dubai. The abductors may not know the girl's identity, but once they figure it out, she's doomed. Deadly double-crosses force Scott to become a planner. Through it all, earnest TV newscasters read the drivel they're handed. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • crying woman
    • red dress
    • white slavery
    • bordello
    • kidnapping
    • 274 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • She's missing.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for violence and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Mamet incorporated a number of real-life experiences from various U.S. special forces members for the production, including Eric L. Haney who had served in highly classified operations during his 20-year military career. Haney's experience included front-line combat units as a combat infantryman, as an Army Ranger, and as a founding operator within the elite Delta Force under Colonel Charlie Beckwith. These experiences helped Haney effectively serve as a technical advisor, weapons expert, and actor's mentor to Val Kilmer, ensuring that Kilmer reflected an accurate depiction of a special forces operative in every capacity. Haney retired as a highly decorated Sergeant Major, and his documented experience also includes security surveys, metro SWAT team arms training, oil company guard force management, executive protection, and the recovery of American children kidnapped and taken overseas.
    • Goofs
      When Curtis is watching the house on the beach, smoke falls out the barrel of his MP5 submachine gun before he fires a shot.
    • Quotes

      Scott: In the city always a refelection, in the woods always a sound.

      Curtis: What about the desert?

      Scott: You don't wanna go in the desert.

    • Crazy credits
      Bicycle Boy - Camden Munson
    • Connections
      Featured in Val (2021)

    User reviews255

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Directed well, some good acting, but certainly not flawless Mamet
    David Mamet's Spartan had me leaving the theater thinking 'yeah, it was a good movie, some things I didn't understand'. Perhaps that's Mamet's intention- he's one of the reigning rulers of writers who use calculated, cool twists in storytelling- but I felt the moments in the film where I wasn't surprised so much by the turns taken. Not to say Spartan doesn't have some surprises (a few elements, such as a couple of deaths and a revelation or two which I won't put down here), and as a visual storyteller I got involved in the tension building with Val Kilmer's situation.

    Kilmer, playing both mentor to training rangers and "worker-bee" to the United States government's special op's, is put on the case of the kidnapping of the President's daughter. It needs to be solved before the media grabs it, but it may not be that easy. Kilmer's Scott is a little more distant in tone and style sometimes, thinking of things to say to people that could border on a hack's cliche, yet Mamet isn't unforgivable in all the dialog. What dissapointed me were some of his choices in shots - he's not always as subtle as you might've thought in his cut-aways and use of music. While this is different territory in subject matter (dealing with a thriller on a political, topical scale), some of the tricks Mamet was pulling seemed stagey, and more predictable than he's known for.

    Should people rush to theatres to see Spartan? Depends- for fans of Kilmer there's a lingering aura of understatement, concern, of a character who has been following rules his whole life, and it's not that bad. Derek Luke is a formidable supporting presence. Ed O'Neill strikes up some dramatic credit amid his post-Married with Children days. William H. Macy could've deserved a little more screen time to emphasize his importance to the story. And Kristen Bell is believable as the torn daughter. The script isn't rapid fire Mamet in delivery and tone, so it is at a pace that will dissapoint those who are looking for non-stop thrills. Maybe my grade is un-fair- the material does seek to be seen again- but I just didn't get that it was top-shelve stuff. B
    helpful•35
    15
    • Quinoa1984
    • Mar 14, 2004

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    Photos

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 12, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Cuộc Chiến Ngoài Dự Kiến
    • Filming locations
      • Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Franchise Pictures
      • ApolloMedia Distribution
      • ApolloProMedia GmbH & Co. 1. Filmproduktion KG (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,250,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,434,432
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,011,435
      • Mar 14, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,112,712
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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