THE NEGOTIATOR
US, 1998, 130 minutes, Colour.
Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, J.T. Walsh, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, Paul Guilfoyle, Paul Giamatti.
Directed by F. Gary Gray.
Samuel L. Jackson plays a skilled police negotiator in siege situations. He declares himself a little crazy, but he is very shrewd in reading people, knows the handbooks and regulations for dealing with desperate and violent situations. A hero, he is suddenly drawn into a frame up and a police cover-up. He can either cut a deal or proclaim his innocence. He chooses the latter - and spectacularly, taking his own hostages to force the lid off the cover-up.
F. Gary Gray directs a tense psychological and action show, maybe overwrought US style, but the situation itself is overwrought. The drama is heightened by the interplay between Jackson and Kevin Spacey, excellent as his chosen neutral negotiator. The universal themes of police corruption and violence mean that most audiences will respond to this skilfully made drama.
1. The impact of the film as police investigation thriller, siege action and hostage thriller, negotiators and their skills, police codes and corruption?
2. Chicago and its environment, the police stations, homes, the streets? The central buildings? The stunt work for the hostage-taking, the siege, the solution? Editing and pace? Musical score?
3. The title and its application to Danny, seeing him initially at work? To Chris Sabien and his dealings with Danny? The comments on other people and their negotiating skills or lack of them? Negotiating as 'lying for a living'?
4. The opening and the hostage sequence, the man with the gun to the woman's head, Danny and his skills, the armed police waiting to act? Decisions on negotiation and talk, using bargaining skills, those who want to go in for action? The snipers and the death of Omar? Danny and his manipulation of him, physically, giving the signal for the killing, telling him jokes, discussions? The celebration afterwards? Danny as a media hero?
5. The money situation in the precinct, Nate and his giving the information, his being shot? His being the informant? The role of Internal Affairs? The interrogations, Danny under suspicion, at home, arrested?
6. Samuel I. Jackson as Danny, screen presence and character, the heroics, the celebration and dancing? His heroism, discipline? The role of the media? His being married, relationship with Karen, the police coming to his home for a search and arrest?
7. The search of the house, further interrogations, handing in his badge and gun to the Chief, the suspicions of the other police? His going with Niebaum, Frost present, the office, Niebaum's sneering and attack? His decision to take them hostage, the dramatic situation, his psychological attitude, his need for proving his innocence? His making the offices secure, the phone demands? His wanting Chris Sabien? The discussions with Foley and badgering him?
8. The media, the gathering of the press, the crowds outside the building, photos, television coverage?
9. The hostage situation: Niebaum and his resentment, Frost and his support? Maggie and her resistance, gradually giving the information about the computers, helping with the codes? The danger to her, her giving the information about Niebaum's house at the end? Rudi, his being in for fraud, his computer skills? His working the computers, getting the information? His admiration for Danny? Danger, rescue? The police who came in, Danny and the shooting of Scott and the later revelation that he had not shot him but wanted to give the impression of ruthlessness? The other policeman, being chained, giving his support to Danny at the end?
10. The Chief, his attitude towards Danny, not knowing what to believe, being in control, it gradually slipping from him, the armed forces, the FBI? His supervision and decisions? Beck and his leading the squad, his antagonism towards Danny, a strong policeman, believing in force, wanting to go in? The other members of the armed forces, their infiltrating, the violent attack and the killing of Niebaum? Danny and his shrewdness in using the weapons against them? Frost and his being released, collaborating with the police? The FBI and their presence, wanting to intervene, asserting jurisdiction? Jurisdiction in the building - but Beck saying they had no jurisdiction outside and taking the running from them?
11. Danny and his psychological state, his reactions, the phone calls to Sabien, the attack and the violence? The computers, getting the information, dealing with Sabien and finding out who Nate went to see before he died? Sabien believing him? The revelation of the police corruption, the fraud system and the cover-up?
12. Sabien, at home, with his wife and daughter, the negotiator, skills, coming, taking charge, his firmness in dealing with the authorities? Sounding out Danny, the attack behind his back? Reasserting himself, the bluff with the informant? Its failing? The case being taken from him, his going into the building, with Danny, supporting him? The ways that he tested him, getting to the truth? The search of the car, taking him to Niebaum's house, the search, the bluff with Frost, shooting Danny - better than being shot by Frost? Negotiating and bluffing with Frost and revealing the truth?
13. Danny, the heroics, his skills, going to the house? The discussions with the corrupt police, the revelation of the truth? His being shot, the finale? The reconciliation with his wife?
14. Frost, the men, the attempts to kill Danny, the finale, the tapes being played, Frost exposed, being wounded and being taken into custody?
15. Psychological portraits of people under stress, negotiations, police background, weaponry, potential violence? Heroism?
