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
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Chris LaCentra
- Cpl. Sattleras Cpl. Sattler
- (as Chris J. Lacentra)
Steven Culp
- Gainesas Gaines
- (as Stephen Culp)
- Director
- Writer
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
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>
- Taglines
- She's missing.
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for violence and language
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaDavid 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.
- GoofsWhen Curtis is watching the house on the beach, smoke falls out the barrel of his MP5 submachine gun before he fires a shot.
- Crazy creditsBicycle Boy - Camden Munson
- ConnectionsFeatured in Val (2021)
Top review
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
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•3515
- Quinoa1984
- Mar 14, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Cuộc Chiến Ngoài Dự Kiến
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- 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
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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