The Negotiator

The script is unremarkable and at certain moments, overly clichéd and derivative. The potential of hostages in a skyscraper evokes Die Hard, but in the sense that the jolly guy is on the "wrong" (or his own) side. Fortunately, the above-average directorial approach can comfortably keep you in your seat for the two-hour runtime. Yes, Gray's work has a few flaws, especially in the middle when the pace starts to fluctuate, but it is still skillful filmmaking. The film is ultimately elevated by the excellent cast of actors, which contributes to my final rating. But once again, not all of them. David Morse suffers from the underutilization of his "cop" charisma, and Samuel L. Jackson's performance is rather standard. However, the absolutely fantastic Kevin Spacey elevates even the most boring scene, breathes life into the driest monologue or dialogue, and overall, it is he who transforms The Negotiator into something it originally isn't: an above-average action thriller, where radios and phones take precedence over guns, and tension is present every minute. (11/30/2005)

A gripping and smart thriller that relies on the battle of intellects and intuition of the excellent Spacey/Jackson duo, and specially on the great dialogues. Thrilling, unconventional, with characters that are not black and white. Excellent, even after several screenings. (03/18/2023)

A solid thriller that relies on Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey as top-notch character actors in the lead roles. The screenplay, which includes a number of impressive twists, suspenseful action scenes, and captivating dialogues, is literally a textbook example of how a modern audience-oriented genre film can be created without cheaply pandering to the taste of the audience. Although it doesn't belong to the absolute peak of the genre and honestly contains a certain amount of the usual clichés, it is still a film that I can easily return to. Overall impression: 75%. (08/27/2009)

A fairly believable piece of American heroic action, at least in terms of the plot structure, with a lot of likeable actors in typically masculine roles (David Morse, Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson, J.T. Walsh, etc.) that complement a good action story with solid pacing and a typically attractive, falsely accused, hero. The work of the negotiators is presented in a very interesting way and the chemistry between Jackson and Spacey is great. There are scenes that are not completely believable, and that are forced into the film with violence, but otherwise, it is a solid action ride. (05/07/2005)

Another one of those unique thrillers the 90s were bursting at the seams with. Although the runtime exceeds two hours, it has no effect on the pace, the story is developed in a flash and is a joy to watch. Much of the credit for this goes to Samuel L. Jackson, who’s at the centre of the action from the start and his performance brings all the sympathy to his wrongly accused character, while Kevin Spacey also adds to the film's impact with his distinctive and flawless approach. The action scenes and their editing are fast and effective and the final twist is interesting and original. I'd put my hand in the fire for a few more films like this, hopefully someone will decide to make them again. 85% (03/03/2012)