THE NEGOTIATOR

Somehow this 1998 crime thriller had gone under my radar.

It has a neat premise.  A police hostage negotiator, Danny, is framed for a murder, and out of desperation he himself takes some hostages, as a way of trying to clear himself.  

The murder is of Danny's partner Nate who was investigating corruption around the local police Disability Fund. The implication is that both the murder and the framing of Danny are the work of the corrupt cops about to be exposed, so Danny demands that a hostage negotiator, Chris, from another part of the city, be brought in to run things.  Although Danny barely knows Chris he at least can rely on him not being corrupt.  

Danny is played by Samuel L Jackson and Chris by Kevin Spacey.  Both are in peak form. Spacey in particular is well cast and extremely compelling.

Their relationship reminded me of that between Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in 'The Fugitive'.  At first Chris has no interest in whether Danny is innocent; he is just intent on doing his job and resolving the situation without bloodshed.  But gradually he begins to realise that Danny's life is in danger as he struggles to keep in charge of the various trigger-happy cops on the scene.

There is also an excellent supporting cast, notably J T Walsh as a cop held hostage who probably knows more than he is letting on. It was Walsh's last performance before his untimely death, and it's a typically accomplished one. 

Best of all though is Paul Giamatti in an early role,  enjoying himself immensely as a lowlife caught up in the shenanigans.

It's a superior film which I enjoyed a lot.  The only (minor) gripes I have is that the action sequences are nothing special, and the director and screenwriter don't quite land the ending.

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do