The Negotiator

Name: The Negotiator
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 29, 1998
Duration: 140 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson

1998

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 162 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 162 Ratings

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The Negotiator

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 29, 1998 | R

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson

Summary: Maverick negotiator Danny Roman (Jackson) is framed for embezzlement and the murder of his partner and best friend. Newly married and faced with an unjust prison sentence, Roman turns hostage-taker to smoke out the guilty ones in his own squad. Brought in to square off against Danny is the respected and methodical negotiator Chris SabianMaverick negotiator Danny Roman (Jackson) is framed for embezzlement and the murder of his partner and best friend. Newly married and faced with an unjust prison sentence, Roman turns hostage-taker to smoke out the guilty ones in his own squad. Brought in to square off against Danny is the respected and methodical negotiator Chris Sabian (Spacey). Under siege and battling against time, the two lock in a deadly battle of wits, finding that when your friends betray you, sometimes the only person you can trust is a stranger. (Warner Bros.)
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Director: F. Gary Gray

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 140 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

A triumph of style over story, and of acting over characters. Read full review

Stephen Thompson

One of the best by-the-numbers thrillers you'll see this year, thanks to a hot-shot cast. Read full review

John Haslett Cuff

From the film's bravura opening scene to its cute but bloody conclusion, The Negotiator plays out as tautly as any crowd-pleasing action flick since Die Hard,which it emulates with shameless glee. Read full review

Emanuel Levy

The teaming of Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey, two of the most highly regarded actors around, in perfectly fitting roles that call for a battle of wits and wills, proves to be a shrewd piece of casting, and the best element of The Negotiator. Read full review

Empire Nick de Semlyen

Kudos to Anderson and Gilroy for making a low-action, dialogue-heavy geopolitical thriller in this day and age. But aside from finally giving its star some strong material to work with, it doesn’t live up to its promise. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

The movie has finesse, and the actors have charm, but there are no surprises. Read full review

Charles Taylor

The Negotiator slogs on for two hours and 20 minutes, and there's hardly a real laugh or a genuine thrill in it. Read full review

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User Reviews

TylerDurden900

Jul 11, 2014

The Negotiator is a fantastic thriller with Samuel L. and Kevin Spacey. The movie has amazing suspense
and the twists aren't decipherable until the final scenes of the movie. The Negotiator is hugely underrated
and it is one of the best movies of the 90's

25 of 26 users found this helpful251

Pluto744

Jun 22, 2021

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:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Receptacle

Jun 23, 2021

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■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Excommunicado

Jan 19, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) uses a shard of mirror, made partially of silver, to flummox the corrupt cop Argento (Tim Kelleher), whose name is based on the Latin word for silver.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

gracjanski

Apr 1, 2021

Intelligent movie with top actors and some decent action. The car and mouse game between Spacey and Jackson was great.
But the story is a bit too incredible.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

tethysdust

Mar 4, 2017

An engaging thriller that features Samuel L. Jackson at the top of his game. I was surpised how tense it could be, even though it mostly took place in one office.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

amheretojudge

Nov 10, 2018

and who-done-it case..

The Negotiator Gray's surf and turf towards this thrilling ride may not be impeccably competent on the maturity but is thoroughly entertaining in its self-created hostage environment. Ticking for almost two and a half hours, the feature keeps you on the edge of theand who-done-it case..

The Negotiator

Gray's surf and turf towards this thrilling ride may not be impeccably competent on the maturity but is thoroughly entertaining in its self-created hostage environment. Ticking for almost two and a half hours, the feature keeps you on the edge of the seat despite of being thick and thin in its methodology. Aforementioned, it may not be as mature as you might think, but it certainly is smarter than we usually get in such hostage situation and who-done-it case. The screenplay is tightly packed over the course of time that enfolds in a balanced pace making you fall in love all over again in this nail biting circumstance. There is no commercial hoax in it, there is no monkey business going on in this building, all the romance is between Spacey and Jackson.

And boy, do they hold up to their reputations. Their conversations are sharp and cunningly weaved out where both of them stand alone for their superpowers amidst the other hungry corrupt characters. The narration is polished with such finesse and flamboyancy that it flows fluently with gripping sequences and your usual satisfying twists and turns. The performance stands up to the caliber of the cast. Jackson as the innocent lead victim of this money-transaction-gone-wrong-case is so comfortable in his suit that he oozes warmth on the screen that makes you ease up on your seat.

Spacey, on his parallel role is equally challenging as both the character and performer, his uncertainty over each tiny detail is enthralling to encounter. The structure of the script maybe familiarly textbook but Gary's vision is much more lucid and perpetually on mark. The Negotiator is definitely diplomatic and exhilarating as a negotiation usually is, but at times this diplomacy tend to lean towards expectancy which can easily be off putting and an anchor to this genre.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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82	#82 Best Movie of 1998
23	#23 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
53	#53 Most Shared Movie of 1998