The Plot... Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is a "hostage negotiator", that is, he's the guy you call to talk down hostage takers in hostage situations. One day his partner (played by Capt. Jim Brass from CSI) comes to him with evidence that some of his fellow cops are "on the take" in the pension fund, but before he can share it with Roman, he is gunned down.
Those "on the take" corner Roman, frame him for the murder and then plant evidence that he's embezzling funds too... well, Roman takes matters into his own hands, taking his own hostages to clear his name. He asks for one guy, and one guy only... Chris Sabien (Kevin Spacey), a negotiator in a different district. Can Sabien talk down one of the guys who knows how the playbook works?
Why Its In The Dave100... Yeah, yeah, it is kinda brainless. I mean, you know how it will probably end. You can guess who's good and who's not... but I like it anyway. As brainless as it might be, its still clever in several places.
Let's be real--Samuel L. Jackson will be in anything. I mean ANYTHING--"The Man"? "Amos & Andrew"? "Formula 51"? Really?--but its great to see him in something watchable and entertaining, but he's a great actor. Spacey has his own list, albeit smaller, of crap ("KPAX", anyone?) but again, he's also a fantastic actor to watch. They pretty much make this movie work.
For the record, I think the name "Danny Roman" is a great name for a cop, but "Chris Sabien" is a little off. Doesn't quite fit. Just sayin'.
It's That Guy! This flick is on par with "Boogie Nights" in the That Guy! quotient... David Morse, Ron Rifkin, Siobhan Fallon, Robert David Hall (also in CSI), and That Guy! Hall of Famer, the late, great JT Walsh. Its also notable that Paul Giamatti was still enjoying That Guy! status during this film, though he's moved out of that slightly with recognition in "Lady in the Water" and "Sideways", and especially "John Adams".
Random Trivia... Sly Stallone was actually supposed to be Chris Sabien, and Spacey would be the main negotiator, that being Danny Roman. Sly turned the role down and Spacey wanted Sabien instead, so they cast Jackson.
Matt Latta says... Kevin Spacey and Samuel L Jackson so a fine job, if not a little unrealistic to think that Kevin Spacey is really a top-notch hostage negotiator...I mean, this is the same guy from American Beauty and Glengarry Glen Ross. I do like the German title of the movie though "Verhandlungssache"- not kidding its on IMDB!