The Negotiator (1998)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Lieutenant Danny Roman	Samuel L. Jackson
Lieutenant Chris Sabian	Kevin Spacey	½
Commander Adam Beck	David Morse
Commander Grant Frost	Ron Rifkin	½
Chief Al Travis	John Spencer	-
Inspector Terence Niebaum	J. T. Walsh	½
Maggie	Siobhan Fallon	-
Rudy	Paul Giamatti
Karen Roman	Regina Taylor	-

Review

Samuel L. Jackson plays a hostage negotiator who after being framed for murder suddenly finds himself on the other side of the proceedings, having to deal with another negotiator (Kevin Spacey) to prove his innocence. This is an industrious and fairly tight suspense film from director F. Gary Gray, who is almost able to hinder the overplotted script from coming off as contrived. Only in the film's finale are we served the 1990s thriller formula of suddenly changing personalities and last-minute interceptions in slow motion. Jackson gives a wholehearted performance in the lead, matched only by Paul Giamatti in one of his vibrant early roles.