The Negotiator main backdrop
The Negotiator main poster

The Negotiator

Visit website

7.1/10 • 2.1K

1998-07-292h 20m

ActionCrimeDramaThriller

He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive.

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.

Directors
F. Gary Gray
Editors
Christian Wagner

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Samuel L. Jackson

    Samuel L. Jackson

    Lt. Danny Roman

  2. Kevin Spacey

    Kevin Spacey

    Lt. Chris Sabian

  3. David Morse

    David Morse

    Cdr. Adam Beck

  4. Ron Rifkin

    Ron Rifkin

    Cdr. Grant Frost

  5. John Spencer

    John Spencer

    Chief Al Travis

  6. J. T. Walsh

    J. T. Walsh

    Insp. Terence Niebaum

  7. Siobhan Fallon Hogan

    Siobhan Fallon Hogan

    Maggie

  8. Paul Giamatti

    Paul Giamatti

    Rudy

  9. Regina Taylor

    Regina Taylor

    Karen Roman

Reviews2

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jul 8, 2022

7/10

Samuel L. Jackson is renowned hostage negotiator "Roman" who is shocked to learn of the murder of his partner. A little further investigation reveals that he had been looking into a multi-million dollar pension fraud. Next thing he knows, "Roman" is being charged with his friend's killing and decides to turn the tables. He goes to the office of the Internal Affairs department, seizes some hostages, barricades himself into the locked office and summons another negotiator "Sabian" (Kevin Spacey) to the scene. What now unfolds is a cleverly crafted detective mystery as the two must overcome their initial professional suspicions of the other, and gradually try to piece together what actually did happen to his pal and to ascertain just who did steal all the cash! It's a good, solid, story this and it's well told with Jackson and Spacey delivering a tale of corruption and mistrust that illustrates just how tough it is to fight back when the very people there to enforce the law are those abusing it. The supporting cast are a bit lacklustre - maybe a bit like an episode of "Hill Street Blues" but it flows well with a tricky denouement that though predictable enough, is quite well executed. It's maybe a bit on the long side, it does take a while to get up an head of steam - but once we get going, it is at the better end of the genre.

Media

  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster
  • The Negotiator poster

Recommendations

  • The Long Kiss Goodnight main backdrop

    The Long Kiss Goodnight

    6.6

  • Someone to Watch Over Me main backdrop

    Someone to Watch Over Me

    5.9

  • Rise of the Footsoldier main backdrop

    Rise of the Footsoldier

    6.4

  • Séraphine main backdrop

    Séraphine

    6.8

  • Frontera main backdrop

    Frontera

    6.5

  • We Were Young main backdrop

    We Were Young

    5.7

  • Zeroville main backdrop

    Zeroville

    5.1

  • The Looming Storm main backdrop

    The Looming Storm

    6.3

  • Bottle Rocket main backdrop

    Bottle Rocket

    6.2

  • Neverwas main backdrop

    Neverwas

    6.3

  • Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem main backdrop

    Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem

    7.5

  • Listen to Me Marlon main backdrop

    Listen to Me Marlon

    7.5

  • No Backdrop

    The Night We Called It a Day

    5.1

  • In Too Deep main backdrop

    In Too Deep

    6.4

  • Dillinger main backdrop

    Dillinger

    6.6

  • Cloak & Dagger main backdrop

    Cloak & Dagger

    6.4

  • The Great Buddha+ main backdrop

    The Great Buddha+

    7.9

  • The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles main backdrop

    The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles

    5.9

  • City 40 main backdrop

    City 40

    6.4

  • Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W. Bush main backdrop

    Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W. Bush

    6.4

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$50,000,000.00
Revenue
$44,547,681.00
Keywords
chicago, illinoiscorruptionpolicehostageinnocencepensionhostage-takingmurderconspiracybullet woundurban settingbluntnegotiatorprovocativesuspensefulcriticalintenseaudaciouscommanding