The Negotiator (1998)

Director:

F. Gary Gray

Writers (WGA):

James DeMonaco (written by) &
Kevin Fox (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

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.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Negotiator | Police | Hostage | Murder | Corruption

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Lt. Danny Roman
Kevin Spacey	...	Lt. Chris Sabian
David Morse	...	Cmdr. Adam Beck
Ron Rifkin	...	Cmdr. Grant Frost
John Spencer	...	Chief Al Travis
J.T. Walsh	...	Insp. Terence Niebaum
Siobhan Fallon	...	Maggie
Paul Giamatti	...	Rudy Timmons
Regina Taylor	...	Karen Roman
Bruce Beatty	...	Markus
Michael Cudlitz	...	Palermo
Carlos Gómez	...	Eagle
Tim Kelleher	...	Argento
Dean Norris	...	Scott
Nestor Serrano	...	Hellman

Also Known As:

Verhandlungssache (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #36071) | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

77 W. Wacker Drive, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

The wife of Danny Roman's partner, Nate Roenick, mentions their son, Jeremy. Jeremy Roenick is the name of a hockey player who used to play for the Chicago Blackhawks in the city where the movie is set.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The sharpshooter puts a laser dot on Roman's head and the officers in the helicopter light Roman up with about eight lasers while he's standing in the window. Police sharpshooters don't use laser sights (i.e. red dot on target). They're good enough to not need them and don't want to tip off the suspect that he's in their sights. Any cops who do have laser sights (which is unlikely, but conceivable) don't put them on the target and keep them there. The sights are for rapidly getting the gun on target - not replacing proper sight picture.

Quotes:

Lieutenant Danny Roman: You were wrong about me. What if I'm right about them?
Lieutenant Chris Sabian: But what if you're wrong about me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (#19.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Rise

Very well done

Terrific action drama about dedicated cop Jackson,who is framed for the murder of his partner and stealing money funds. Spacey does a great job as the stranger. Film relies more on drama than action which is good in this case. Marred only by overlength.

Rating:**** (out of five)