by Mark Welch

Jan 25, 2000

Remember how 7 even drug along until Kevin Spacey appeared on screen? Well here I am almost an hour into The Negotiator, and no Kevin Spacey. At last he appears, and things do begin to pick up. But then we get a noisy, action laden Hollywood conclusion that drags things out much longer than necessary (the final product clocks in at an unwieldy 2:19). Another problem I had was how the movie alternates from overly complicated (the whole conspiracy scenario) to ridiculously predictable. No movie with interplay between Spacey and another favorite of mine, Samuel Jackson, can be all bad, but this one didn’t have enough going for it for me.

10-point scale rating: 4

 

by Richard LaFreniere

Jan 25, 2000

The Negotiator is definately a wonderful film. Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey deliver a high performance with high stake action. The story line is pretty simple. Jackson is a pro-hostage negotiator who is forced to take hostages to prove his innocence in a crime he did not commit. Kevin Spacey plays the negotiator forced to deal with Jackson. Naturally, in any major city, where hostages are taken, the almighty FBI! are called in to assist in the situation. Unfortunately, dispite my loyalty and faith in the FBI, I must admit, they were depicted poorly in this film. I highly recommend this film for those of you whom are looking for a great time at the movies.

 

by George Jobson

May 8, 2003

I was in Los Angeles attending the Media workshop when I attended the screening of "The Negotiator" at the Village in Westwood. I can recalled a large line was forming across the street at the Bram for "Saving Private Ryan." The film stars Sammuel L. Jackson as a negotiator who was accussed of a crime he didn't commit and began holding hostages. Enter Kevin Spacey as the man who is trying to talk him into giving up, but that won't be easy. Lots of supense and lots of action. Lots of fun too.