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The Negotiator

Play trailer Poster for The Negotiator R 1998 2h 18m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.
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The Negotiator

The Negotiator

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Critics Consensus

The Negotiator's battle of wits doesn't wholly justify its excessive length, but confident direction by F. Gary Gray and formidable performances makes this a situation audiences won't mind being hostage to.

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Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety 09/11/2006
B-
Teaming for the first time Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, arguably the two best actors of their generation, in perfectly fitting roles is a shrewd move and the best element of this fact-inspired but overwrought thriller Go to Full Review
Time Out 01/26/2006
A hybrid action-drama featuring the choreographed pyrotechnics of director Gray and a battle of words between contrasting hostage negotiators Jackson and Spacey. Go to Full Review
Charles Taylor Salon.com 01/01/2000
"The Negotiator" slogs on for two hours and 20 minutes, and there's hardly a real laugh or a genuine thrill in it. Go to Full Review
Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 12/13/2023
3.5/5
When, in a weary moment, Danny says “you can’t beat the system,” Samuel L. Jackson underlines the underpinnings that still distinguish "The Negotiator" and that there could have been no more perfect project for Jackson’s leap into leading-man status. Go to Full Review
Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 07/28/2020
2/5
A big, dumb, lumbering cop thriller that works through a very familiar, very basic formula, very, very slowly indeed. Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr 7M Pictures 06/27/2011
3.5/5
It's not perfect, but it's enjoyable enough to be one of those movies I might stop channel surfing to watch on late-night television. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ray C Dec 5 A slightly above-average police thriller elevated by its two leads, The Negotiator suffers from a bloated runtime but still delivers the kind of thrills you’d expect from this type of film. The supporting cast is strong as well, though Paul Giamatti hams it up a bit too much as the comic relief. The story also tries to be smarter than it is and often ends up feeling overcomplicated—and occasionally predictable. I also think it would’ve been more compelling if we as the audience had been kept in the dark about the protagonist’s innocence. Samuel L. Jackson gives a performance that makes his character seem unstable and potentially unreliable, and the film might have been more intriguing if we weren’t sure whether to trust him. Still, The Negotiator is a solid action thriller overall, and I had a good time with it. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Oct 18 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Alejandro E @Alex970 Oct 17 La historia de un tenso escenario de rehenes, por parte de un policía difamado, tiene sus buenos momentos en el que mantiene en vilo al espectador. No está entre las mejores actuaciones de Samuel L. Jackson pero se desempeña bien. See more Sharang L @Sharang Oct 11 Must have been a slick thriller back in the day. Hasn't aged particularly well, I am afraid. See more M B Oct 6 Exciting with an intelligent storyline and dialogue. Well directed, brilliantly cast and acted! See more Todd B Oct 2 I liked the character Nebaum that was emphasized by Sam Jackson. See more Read all reviews
The Negotiator

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Movie Info

Synopsis Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.
Director
F. Gary Gray
Producer
Arnon Milchan, David Hoberman
Screenwriter
James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 29, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.7M
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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