The Negotiator (1998)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lenny M

  
  Another flixter deletion, I reviewed this a long time ago but it was probably too colorful. The length could be condensed but I think it's one of Samuel Jackson's best movies in a leading role. It has a solid supporting cast and is a prime example of his yelling abilities.

• Jeff "

  
  F. Gary Gray is a terrific director when it comes to delivering action, suspense and thrills. He is overlooked as a talented director because his films tend to be "cliched" and "derivative". However I think he's a good director, not great, not excellent, but… More
  F. Gary Gray is a terrific director when it comes to delivering action, suspense and thrills. He is overlooked as a talented director because his films tend to be "cliched" and "derivative". However I think he's a good director, not great, not excellent, but good. Gray knows how to deliver a good story to the screen, and he most certainly does it with The Negotiator. This is an electrifying film with plenty of action, but more importantly, suspense. The story follows a cop who is accused of killing his partner. His partner uncovered a conspiracy of embezzlement with the police department. Officer Danny Roman must then take matters into his own hands to uncover the truth. He takes a group of people hostage at the Chicago internal affairs division headquarters.The Negotiator is a well crafted action thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film is not perfect, but it certainly delivers good entertainment. Samuel L. Jackson gives a great performance and so does Kevin Spacey. The plot is very interesting, like I said itr's not perfect, but there are more good things than bad in the film. The acting choices are good, and everyone delivers something unique on screen. I really enjoyed this film and despite the somewhat lackluster bits, theres too much going on that makes up for the bad. For me, The Negotiator is one of Samuel L. Jackson's best films, and he delivers something on screen thats better than most of his other work.

• Shawn E

  
  Jackson and Spacey are brilliant and obviously in their element. The average story seems to be the only thing holding this film back.

• familiar s

  
  When a successful police negotiator is falsely accused of corruption and killing his colleague, he takes four people, including an inspector and a commander, as a hostage with him in order to gain time and means to find out the facts and prove his innocence. The movie is a… More
  When a successful police negotiator is falsely accused of corruption and killing his colleague, he takes four people, including an inspector and a commander, as a hostage with him in order to gain time and means to find out the facts and prove his innocence. The movie is a conventional action thriller that successfully delivers what it primarily intends to: entertain. The humorous dialogues and situations throughout the movie often makes you chuckle. Samuel Jackson is rocking. As for the cons of this movie, the who-dun-it part was ineffective and it dragged a bit too much in the second half. Trimming it by at least 20 minutes would have been helpful. Anyway, worth a shot for what it is.

• Ginny  

  
  I hate it when a good movie is ruined by a fatal simplistic flaw, okay so Ill just ignore that tiny crack that the whole story revolved around in cuz the acting, casting and the script was so good! Aye carumba, I cant bear to give this an average rating cuz it wasnt average at all,… More
  I hate it when a good movie is ruined by a fatal simplistic flaw, okay so Ill just ignore that tiny crack that the whole story revolved around in cuz the acting, casting and the script was so good! Aye carumba, I cant bear to give this an average rating cuz it wasnt average at all, but there was something about the story that was somewhat mentally insulting ugh.. Its a good film, dont mind my whining. XP!

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive."</i> 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… More
  <i>"He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive."</i> 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. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u> </b></font></center> Lieutenant Danny Roman, just married and quickly becoming recognized as one of Chicago's top hostage negotiators, has his life turned upside down when he's framed for the murder of his partner and embezzlement of his department's pension fund. With the evidence piling up against him and unsure of who he can trust, he resorts to desperate means by taking hostages himself and acquiring the services of an unknown by equally skilled negotiator (Spacey) in order to clear his name. Sharp, intelligent thriller should be your run of the mill cop flick, but the plot twists are so convincing, the police procedures so realistic, and the acting done with such great conviction that you don't want to miss a single moment of it! Jackson and Spacey ignite the screen, but they're surrounded by a top-notch supporting cast. A great piece of work from all those involved.

• Anthony L

  
  I?m glad Paul Giamatti turns down the stupid comedy roles these days. It?s an ok film, but it should?ve been better due to its great cast!

• Film C

  
  i like this movie its really good

• Khris N

  
  Jackson v Spacey - what do u get when two GREAT actors square off in movies?? - A superb movie!! <br/>Sam Jackson is the Chicago cop framed for the murder of his partner. Facing prison and reciveving no help from his now hostile team, he goes on the offensive, taking hostage… More
  Jackson v Spacey - what do u get when two GREAT actors square off in movies?? - A superb movie!! <br/>Sam Jackson is the Chicago cop framed for the murder of his partner. Facing prison and reciveving no help from his now hostile team, he goes on the offensive, taking hostage the Internal Affairs officer investigating him and others. Realising only his superior skills and training can keep him alive, he allies himself with his anoher negotiator whom he only knows by reputation, to help him find out who murdered his partenr and why. <br/> <br/>Tense, nail biting and powerful performance by two Hollywood heavywieghts in a superb thriller by a greta director with credits such as A Man Apart, The Italian Job remake and Friday.

• Taylor B

  
  One of the first films I loved. I've probably seen this 4 or 5 times.. It's some of the best acting by Samuel L. Jackson and Spacey. Intense delivery of some great lines in the film.. "You want my blood? Take my blood!"

• Dean M

  
  Gripping thriller about a police hostage negotiator who takes a few hostages himself after being framed for killing his partner. The script, though taut, has its logic lapses. But Samuel L. Jackson, as the distraught but cagey suspect, and Kevin Spacey, as the second negotiator… More
  Gripping thriller about a police hostage negotiator who takes a few hostages himself after being framed for killing his partner. The script, though taut, has its logic lapses. But Samuel L. Jackson, as the distraught but cagey suspect, and Kevin Spacey, as the second negotiator brought into finesse the crisis, play it for all it's worth, and because of them there's never a down moment.

• Tim S

  
  Samuel L. Jackson is funny as shit.

• Al S

  
  A smart, tence and riveting edge of your seat action-thriller. Packs of full-clip of suspense, excitment and untsopable tension. Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey pack unbeliveable star power. It will always keep your pulse racing. Great action and surprises throughout.

• Lady D

  
  An enjoyable film, Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey both on my favourite actors list. The storyline is unique and original, it's one of those 'worth watching once' movies

• Candy R

  
  Excellent cast. Great thriller.

• Dean !

  
  A great thriller with lots of action. Two of my favourite actors in one film at last!

• xGary X

  
  An overly familiar hostage action/drama bolstered by the charisma of it's two stars. It's all very formulaic but watchable enough.

• Drew S

  
  This is like Die-Hard level as far as "brainless action flicks" go. Films of that vein are so underrated. Few people realize how much work actually goes into screenplays for films like The Negotiator - and here, it certainly paid off.

• Aaron N

  
  Lieutenant Danny Roman: A quick lesson in lying. See, this is what us real cops do: We study liars. Example: If I ask you a question about something visual, like your favorite color, your eyes go up and to the left. Neurophysiology tells us your eyes go in that direction, because… More
  Lieutenant Danny Roman: A quick lesson in lying. See, this is what us real cops do: We study liars. Example: If I ask you a question about something visual, like your favorite color, your eyes go up and to the left. Neurophysiology tells us your eyes go in that direction, because you're accessing the visual cortex. So you're telling the truth. If your eyes go up and right, you're accessing the brain's creative centers and we know you're full of shit. A neat thriller. Somewhat original premise, with two good leads. Jackson and Spacey both do a good job as a man who is having everything taken away from him and a man who is trying to keep him calm. Despite the fact that you can see where things are going, that doesn't make it less fun of a movie, plus the fact that it's R, giving Jackson the chance to say Motherfucker, is always welcome.

• Roy G

  
  Teaming for the first time Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, arguably the two best actors of their generation, in perfectly fitting roles is a shrewd move and the best element of this fact-inspired but overwrought thriller

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