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545 |
3558 |
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(474) |
178 |
1162 |
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(977) |
367 |
2396 |
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Plot:
Campbell Scott plays a green young technocrat who invents a secret and highly successful high-tech process that, it appears, most of the free world would like to get their hands on. His own company ma...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:July 8, 2008The worst thing about Mamet's "The Spanish Prisoner" is that it thinks it's smart. That we will never know what's going to happen next. Who's going to con who and how's the whole thing is going to end. Yes, if at first, I'll agree, we're not telepaths after all. But after the first plot-twist, we really don't want to know anymore.
"The Spanish Prisoner" carries the same problem that Mamet's debut, "House of Games". It simply tries too hard. As if it didn't know that the good thriller always have to consist certain coolness to it so it may hit us with a speed of bullet at the right moment we don't expect it. Remember that scene when Lindsay Crouse almost gets conned for the first time by the poker table by Joe Mantegna and his friends? You saw that coming, don't you? Well, even if you didn't, when it happend you weren't much suprised, did you? The scene was built so self-conciously that even if Roger Rabbit himself came up from Mantegna's hat, I wouldn't be suprised. I would do exactly what I did when a first saw it: I would laughed. Mamet is a pure anti-talent in creating cinematic tension. His sets are staged, actors are staged, hell, every damn move is staged, you can feel it as when you're feeling your head when you're hangover, or when you numb your ass on a bench in a bad high school theater. Or in a bad cinema, for that matter.
Stiffness in "The Spanish Prisoner" is simply overwhelming and the whole plot feels so forced that even such wonderful talents like Campbell Scott or Ben Gazzara can't do anything to make it work for at least couple of minutes to get us back on track. And I don't wish to insult Rebecca Pidgeon here, but, really, why is it that everytime I see her acting on the screen I can't help the thought that her place lays somewhere else, anywhere, but not in front of the camera? One thing is certain: she's not the one who does the cast -
MCT:April 16, 2008
The worst thing about Mamet's "The Spanish Prisoner" is that it thinks it's smart. That we will never know what's going to happen next. Who's going to con who and how's the whole thing is going to end. Yes, if at first, I'll agree, we're not telepaths after all. But after the first plot-twist, we really don't want to know anymore.
"The Spanish Prisoner" carries the same problem that Mamet's debut, "House of Games". It simply tries too hard. As if it didn't know that the good thriller always have to consist certain coolness to it so it may hit us with a speed of bullet at the right moment we don't expect it. Remember that scene when Lindsay Crouse almost gets conned for the first time by the poker table by Joe Mantegna and his friends? You saw that coming, don't you? Well, even if you didn't, when it happend you weren't much suprised, did you? The scene was built so self-conciously that even if Roger Rabbit himself came up from Mantegna's hat, I wouldn't be suprised. I would do exactly what I did when a first saw it: I would laughed. Mamet is a pure anti-talent in creating cinematic tension. His sets are staged, actors are staged, hell, every damn move is staged, you can feel it as when you're feeling your head when you're hangover, or when you numb your ass on a bench in a bad high school theater. Or in a bad cinema, for that matter.
Stiffness in "The Spanish Prisoner" is simply overwhelming and the whole plot feels so forced that even such wonderful talents like Campbell Scott or Ben Gazzara can't do anything to make it work for at least couple of minutes to get us back on track. And I don't wish to insult Rebecca Pidgeon here, but, really, why is it that everytime I see her acting on the screen I can't help the thought that her place lays somewhere else, anywhere, but not in front of the camera? One thing is certain: she's not the one who does the cast. -
MCT:January 12, 2008If you don't like movies that take you down a dark path because of poor choices by the protagonist don't see this one. Steve Martin is what you would not expect.
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MCT:November 27, 2007Not a "who done it". This is a "who's doing it" movie. The "details" on Flixter says it is "mystery, suspense and drama". I say "indeed it is!" Campbell Scott does an excellent job as the young technocrat; Steve Martin is serious all the way through it - wonder it didn't kill him!
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MCT:August 11, 2007This movie kept me on the edge of my seat. My only comment would be that some of the characters lacked "kick." Perhaps it was intentional, but better actors might have made it better.
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MCT:June 17, 2007
I have a hard time giving this a bad rating because it had me interested for the first half hour. The story was promising, the acting was decent (except for that weird girl who was the secretary, although I think there are people like that in real life) but the story started going downhill when there were gaps, unexplained things--maybe too mildly explained is a better term. The music was HORRIBLE--I watched a cartoon from 20 years ago with better music. The most satisfying part of the movie to me was that the language used and adult themes were kept to an absolute minimum--nothing was shown and only one time was there foul language used.
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MCT:February 23, 2007
In my top 5 of best movies ever. Brilliantly written and directed. Real dialogue and despite some would say as slow, this is Mamet at his best! You will be engaged like never before. Watch, listen and you will feel part of conversations.
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MCT:February 21, 2007
Such strong performances, and Steve Martin really surprised me. A lovely sleeper film; I'd be proud to own it. And, I love the Irish-style female lead, as well as Campbell Scott.
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MCT:January 7, 2007
The best movie you've never heard of. The plot is extremely complicated but that doesn't really bother you, what bothers you is that you have no trouble following every minute of it.
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MCT:December 6, 2006
A PG-rated Mamet ?!? What is the world coming to ? Actually, this is a cool, low-key con-artist vs. poor sap thriller. Steve Martin -- you're capable of this, and yet you toil in Disney family crap ! For Shame !
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MCT:November 26, 2006
I stopped watching this in the middle. Why? After House of Games, I didn't believe anything that anyone said, and I got a headache trying to figure out who was conning whom.
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MCT:October 21, 2006
Confusing and elementary at the same time- Mamet wouldn't have it any other way. The master playwright proves that he is an auteur and can thrill and intrigue without his usual profanity. This mystery is full of twists and suspense, and fetures Steve Martin in his own departure from typecasting.
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MCT:September 17, 2006
An amazing suspense movie spoilt by some poor acting, and a 'B' movie budget....A tad little slow but the story is great...I hope there'll be a remake which makes this the classic it would truely deserve to be....
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MCT:August 2, 2006
Très bien écrit, un tour de force! Réalisateur un peu discrète, mais reste que David Mamet est surtout reconnu pour ses scénarios!
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MCT:April 17, 2006
Quality writing by David Mamet, and an unsuspected dramatic turn for Steve Martin- will keep you guessing.
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