Movie · 1998 · Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller · 2h 20m · R · English
Curator score: 4.4/10 (168.9K ratings)
He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive.
Overview
The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.4/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Metacritic: 62
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
F. Gary Gray
Production
Regency Enterprises, Mandeville Films, Taurus Film
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, J.T. Walsh, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Paul Giamatti, Regina Taylor, Bruce Beatty, Michael Cudlitz, Carlos Gómez, Tim Kelleher, Dean Norris, Nestor Serrano, Doug Spinuzza, Leonard L. Thomas, Stephen Lee, Lily Gibson, Lauri Johnson
Curator Review
Verdict
A sturdy, highly watchable 90s conspiracy thriller powered by Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey sparring in a pressure-cooker setup. It’s a little overlong and occasionally implausible, but the tension, performances, and contained-location suspense make it an easy recommendation for thriller fans.
Best for
fans of 90s studio thrillers
viewers who like hostage standoffs and cat-and-mouse plotting
fans of charismatic lead performances and verbal sparring
people who enjoy conspiracy stories set inside institutions
Skip if
you want a lean, realistic procedural
you dislike melodramatic twists and heightened dialogue
you prefer action over talky suspense
you are burned out on corrupt-cop conspiracy plots
Overview
The Negotiator is exactly the kind of polished late-90s thriller that knows how to keep a room humming. It leans on a strong central premise, a claustrophobic office siege, and two star performances that turn every exchange into a duel. Even when the plotting stretches credibility, the movie keeps its grip through momentum and attitude.
Worth noting
What makes it work best is the balance between procedural detail and big, crowd-pleasing tension. F. Gary Gray stages the film with confidence, using the contained setting to squeeze drama out of every corridor, phone call, and face-off. The result feels like a glossy studio thriller with just enough bite to stay memorable.
Bottom line
It’s not subtle, and it runs a bit long, but that’s part of its 90s appeal. If you like conspiracy stories where the real entertainment is watching skilled actors outmaneuver each other under pressure, this one delivers.
Top Letterboxd reviews
theo (4★) · 573 likes
farley try to not say no challenge (impossible)
Christian Di Leo (3.5★) · 287 likes
Another F. Gary Gray banger. First time viewing for me and I'm extremely disappointed that it took me until 2021 to watch this solid as a rock 90s action-thriller. It feels very much like a lost Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer production such as Crimson Tide, Enemy Of The State or The Rock. This thing contains a ton of bright spots, including: a lot of Samuel L. Jackson yelling (motherfucker included), a lot of Kevin Spacey acting like a smart-ass, Paul Giamatti being a scummy weasel and John Spencer dancing to "Cotton-Eyed Joe". What's not to love?
👮🏾♂️🚔☎️🔫👨🏾💻
gregs1999 (4.5★) · 231 likes
Thrilling like a motherfucker up in here. Goddamn, my heart was beating out my chest, waiting on every word with bated breath. A masterclass in story telling, everything had a through line, and paid off with great effect. Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey in a film together? Colour me flabbergasted, my sphincter clenched with excitement. Two of my favourite actors trying to out act each other. Beautiful. I would put myself through this film again without a second thought.
F. Gary Gray ranked
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (3.5★) · 179 likes
So I would have never known about this film if it weren't for Letterboxd. This is another one I am glad I found, since despite its lengthy runtime and the fact that I'm still not sure it is fully justified, it is still a very good exercise in contained spaces. The film mostly takes place in two settings with F. Gary Gray utilizing close-up shots, editing and acting to great effect. Through sparse dialogue and ample overlap, he manages to… more So I would have never known about this film if it weren't for Letterboxd. This is another one I am glad I found, since despite its lengthy runtime and the fact that I'm still not sure it is fully justified, it is still a very good exercise in contained spaces. The film mostly takes place in two settings with F. Gary Gray utilizing close-up shots, editing and acting to great effect. Through sparse dialogue and ample overlap, he manages to… more
Andy Summers 🤠 (4★) · 168 likes
When you look at Samuel L Jackson's career he really has done every kind of film you can think of. From Star Wars to Tarantino's scripture quoting purveyor of death, there isn't a single genre he hasn't tried. With that in mind it should come as no surprise that thrillers should be his forte. The Negotiator is a run of the mill conspiracy thriller with one added dimension, a certain Kevin Spacey to challenge Samuel L for the best lines.… more When you look at Samuel L Jackson's career he really has done every kind of film you can think of. From Star Wars to Tarantino's scripture quoting purveyor of death, there isn't a single genre he hasn't tried. With that in mind it should come as no surprise that thrillers should be his forte. The Negotiator is a run of the mill conspiracy thriller with one added dimension, a certain Kevin Spacey to challenge Samuel L for the best lines.… more
1998 · Action, Drama, Thriller · 2h 12m · R · Curator 4.8/10 (392.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A paranoid late-90s conspiracy thriller about surveillance, institutions, and a man trapped by a system.