I saw The Negotiator Friday night with Spawn.
It was....ordinary. Best considered in the Executive Decision
vein--B actors all getting bigger parts than normal. I'm
surprised at the enthusiam of the reviewers--I think it's because
Jackson and Spacey are so popular with them that they overlook
the fact that it's pretty mundane. Spawn figured out *several*
plot holes with the premise. And there are certain scenes
(particularly one with Jackson's lawyer) that are just painfully
unbelievable.
Major drawback--the dialogue. The actors did what they could with
it.
Plus points--Spacey and Jackson. Spacey isn't around for the
first 45 minutes, but his opening scene is actually pretty cute;
he was given the gift of the least lousy lines. Jackson is great,
but they give the poor man some shit-awful speeches. OTOH, his
scene with the poor guy handed the job of negotiating with him
first ("don't say NO!") is wonderful.
Actually, all the acting was solid. It's nice to see David Morse,
Ron Rifkin, and John Spencer going through their paces in parts
that actually move the plot along. Look quick for Michael
Cudlitz, who played the poetic drunk in last year's Grosse Point
Blank.
Of note were two of the four hostages--Paul Giamatti and Sioban
Fallon. Giamatti had the funniest lines of the show; in fact, the
movie is improved tremendously by his presence. Fallon had a nice
take on her part.
The False Villain plot device is used effectively. And it's fun
getting an insight into the negotiator's job.
There is one solid reason to see the movie. J.T. Walsh is no
longer with us. And he's terrific. Even if you can *see* the fact
that he's going to die soon IRL. The man just doesn't look too
good.
All in all, not a *bad* film. Just...well. Ordinary.
