The Negotiator "I am NOT going to jail today!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, figured I would get another post in just now while I am on some kind of a roll for the first in a while lol. So, this post is another revisit of one of my older ones, which is of the police crime thriller, The Negotiator starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey. 

So, after almost 25 years, how does The Negotiator stand up??? Well let's find out!

So, the usual warning is coming...

PLOT SPOILERS ARE AHEAD!!

STORY 

So, the film is set in Chicago and starts with top hostage negotiator, Danny Roman (Jackson) who manages to defuse a hostage crises at the start of the film involving a man who holds his daughter hostage.  

Later on Danny at a party for one of the fellow officers, meets with his partner, Nathan Roenick (Paul Guilfoyle) who warns that large amounts of money have been taken from the department's disability fund.  Danny is also a member of the board to do with the fund and Nate warns him that other members may be involved too and that he has an informant but he keeps quiet about who it is.  Danny agrees to meet Nate later on, but when he does he finds Nate has been murdered and the police arrive quickly afterwards.  

And from here things go from bad to worse for Danny as Internal affairs take over the investigation of the murder, which is lead by Inspector Niebaum (J.T. Walsh).  Niebaum's investigations soon uncover that Nate was murdered by a gun recovered from a case that Danny had previously worked on, also as they search Danny's house they find evidence of an offshore account, which has amount of money that matches an amount embezzled from the fund.  After this comes to light, most of Danny's fellow officers refuse to believe his innocence and his police chief, Al Travis (John Spencer) asks for Danny's gun and badge.

Danny is soon faced with serious charges, which leaves him little choice but to go and question Niebaum at his office about the fund and the possibility of his being set up.  Niebaum however refuses to listen and as Danny is about to be turfed out the office, Danny takes Niebaum hostage along with his admin assistant, Maggie (Siobhan Fallon), police commander Grant Frost (Ron Rifkin) and a con-man Ruddy Timmons (Paul Giamatti).  

The building is soon put into lockdown with the police (which includes his own police unit) and the FBI securing the area.  Danny then contacts the police to inform them of his conditions, which include finding Nate's informant and to summon another top hostage negotiator, Chris Sabian (Spacey).  Danny requests Sabian as he is outside the whole matter and is also known to negotiate as long as possible without using force.  As Sabian arrives on the scene a long night lies ahead for everyone as Danny tries to get to the bottom of who set up him and do what he can to try and clear his name before his own people try to take him out....

THOUGHTS 

The Negotiator to this day is a still a very effective albeit far fetched thriller and it features a fine cast as well as two great performances from the leads.  And while it isn't the most probable of story lines the fact it is so well paced and put together is what helps The Negotiator be an engrossing film.  The hostage setting also allows for the action set pieces to be effectively set in the one place and it almost has the feel of a Die Hard film (except with the cop being the terrorist, well sort of!) especially there is a slightly claustrophobic feel given that everything is centered around Niebaum's office.  The story itself was said to be partly based on the pension fund scam that took place in the early 90's at St Louis Police Department.  Although for me the pension fund scam is the least most interesting aspect of the film and its action and set pieces are what really make the film work in the end.

PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section may contain strong language and spoilers!)   

So, moving onto the performances everything is top notch as the film has a great cast.

And to start off with Samuel L. Jackson, who is terrific in his role as Danny Roman, a top negotiator who is framed for a murder he did not commit and he ends up having to take drastic measures to try and clear his name.  

Jackson has quite a few highlights in the film such as the scene at the start where Danny neutralizes a hostage crisis as a man, Omar holds his daughter at gun point and Danny gains the man's trust enough to let him into the apartment, so Danny can signal his team to take the man out the picture.

So, in the scene Danny tells a joke to Omar about marines and he says "Omar... A Marine and a sailor are taking a piss... The Marine goes to leave without washing up... The sailor says, "In the Navy... they teach us to wash our hands... The Marines turn to him and says... and Omar joins in "In the marines they teach us not to piss on our hands!". Danny then signals the police snipers out the window to take the shot and they shoot Omar in the shoulder and allows Danny to grab the shotgun and hold Omar at gunpoint as his team enter.

Another scene is where Danny talks to his wife, Danny tells her he promises he won't pull anymore crazy stuff as a negotiator and he says to her as he takes her hand "Listen listen. Danny Roman is a married man now. No more crazy shit. You see this?  That is the bus.  You see the bus?  That's crazy on the bus!".    

Then there is the scene where Danny confronts Niebaum in his office and says to him "A man has the right to face his accusers, doesn't he, Inspector? We need to talk" and Niebaum sighs and says "Alright talk" and Danny asks "I need to know what's going on?" and Niebaum scoffs and says "You killed your partner and you are about to be formally indicted for it". Danny insistent says to Niebaum "You haven't answered my question! Nate told me you were involved and I wanna know how. Look me in the eye and tell me you weren't involved. LOOK ME IN THE EYE, GODDAMN IT!!". Niebaum growing tired of Danny says "Look you in the eye for what?! Look tell it to the judge! We're done! Get him out of here!". And Danny struggles with one of Niebaum's men and grabs the gun from him and points it at Niebaum and says "You don't feel like talking?! Well, we're gonna stay here until you do! Because I am NOT going to jail today!".

Another good scene is where Danny questions Niebaum once he has taken him hostage and he can tell instantly that Niebaum is lying.  And in the scene Danny says "I know you're lying cos I'm reading your eyes.  A quick lesson in lying, see this is what us real cops do!  And neurophysiology tells us if your eyes go up to the left then your accessing the visual cortex, which means you are telling the truth.  So if your eyes go up and right then you are accessing the brain's creative centers and we know you're full of shit!".

Another good scene is where Danny talks to one of his own unit's members, Farley, who becomes nervous when he tries to talk Danny down, he toys with Farley and asks him "Now did you ever dress up as a little school girl and get your ass spanked??!".  And as he threatens to kill someone if Farley says no again, he teases him and asks "You know any jokes, Farley?" and Farley without thinking says "No..." and Danny yells "NO?! You just cost someone their life, Farley!  Game over!" and he fires his gun and then shouts into his radio "You can't talk me down!  You can't make me change the deadline.  NOW GET ME SABIAN!!!".  

Then there is the scene where Danny first meets with Sabian and Sabian asks him "Now what am I doing here?" and Danny says "Before Nate was killed, he told me the men involved are from my precinct. Guys I know. Guys I might call friends". Sabian then asks "And?" and Danny says "And you're not. When your friends betray you, sometimes the only people you can trust are strangers".

Then there is the scene where Sabian returns to Danny after his own team go over Sabian's head and try and take him out but fail, so Sabian confronts him.

And in the scene Danny tries to make Sabian see reason as to what happened "The rules of engagement state "Don't breach if the hostage-taker is willing to kill in retaliation." I think I've proved I'm willing to do that. Things are not what they seem, Chris. You saw what they did. They didn't tell you they were coming in because they want me dead". Sabian warns Danny "One more gun goes off and I give the order to move in myself, you understand?" and Danny requests "I need you to turn the electricity back on, so I can turn on the computer and look at Niebaum's files. I also want food and blankets for the hostages" and Sabian bargains and says "I need a hostage, nothing less" and Danny relents and as he stands behind Frost he tells Sabian "Take Frost".  

WARNING: BIG SPOILER COMING UP!!!

And then there is the scene where the FBI decide to take over the situation from the police and Sabian makes a last ditch attempt to get Danny to surrender as he goes in to see him. And in the scene, Sabian says to Danny "Beck says yoυ fired first and Νiebaυm was an accident" and Danny tells him "Νiebaυm Was no accident. Ηe was assassinated. Ηe's got three bullets, center mass. Look" and Sabian looks at the chair with the bullet holes on it and Danny says "Come on, Chris. Yoυ gotta admit something's going on". Sabian however says "It doesn't matter. Two cops are dead and yoυ killed one. I need to get you and these hostages out of here before they come in". 

Danny then walks away and Sabian follows him and says "Let's end this, Danny!" and he grabs Danny, who turns around and pins Sabian to the wall and then pushes him into a room to show the cop that Danny allegedly killed is still alive and taped and gagged. Danny then tells Sabian "Now they had to believe I was capable of that! There's only one dead copy up, killed by the men who tried to set me up! Now, you were wrong about me but what if I'm right about them??".  

And last of all is the scene where the corrupt police officers follow Danny and Sabian to Niebaum's house where Danny searches Niebaum's computer for the files that would incriminate him and as they enter, Danny taunts them. So, Danny says "Ηow could yoυ dυmb fucks let somebody get you on tape?!" and one of the cops, Hellman grows impatient with Danny and says "Come on. Listen to you. Why don't yoυ stop this shit and come out?!" and Danny taunts him more and says "All right, keep talking' asshole. Yoυ've already done everything wrong. Yoυ left me alive, me against you, and I Won!".

Kevin Spacey even though he has since become a disgraced actor due to the sexual harassment cases made against him, he is still excellent here as Chris Sabian, the hostage negotiator who is called on by Danny, who tries to diffuse the situation.  And Spacey's best scenes come with his one on one encounters with Jackson or when they talk on the radio. 

And Spacey's notable scenes include his first one, which is quite amusing as Sabian tries to talk his wife out of the bathroom who takes offense at a remark her daughter said, and Sabian sighs saying "You know I once talked a man out of blowing up the Sears tower but I can't talk my wife out of the bedroom or get my kid off the phone!". And his wife from the bathroom says "That's because there's no one standing behind you with a big gun!" and Sabian says to himself "Well, that's debatable!".  

And Spacey's first scene as they talk to each other on the radios sets the tone of their relationship very well, when they talk about Shane and how Sabian reads histories and biographies and Danny says "Well you shouldn't believe everything you read in books" and Sabian replies "Well I don't just read one book on a subject.  I try to read different books to get the facts and decide for myself what happened" and Danny quite impressed says "Yeah all the books, yeah that's good. You're much better at this than Farley you know?".   

And Spacey shares another good scene with Jackson after the police attempt to make their first assault and fail, and he says to Danny "Oh I'm sorry did you want something?!  Do you think killing a man gives you the power to negotiate with me?  That it will give you time?  Don't you fuckin count on it!  Right now I'm the only thing between you and a whole army just itching to walk in here and take you out!  So you tell me something, Danny.  Why should I get in their way?!  Make me believe why I should deal with you ever again??!". 

Another good scene is where the FBI take over the situation to the protest of Sabian who tries to reason with them as the senior agent says they are going to go in full breach. So, Sabian warns them "Don't do it. Listen. Yoυ breach, everyone's gonna die! Understand that? Everyone's gonna die! Maybe that's what some of you wanna have happen, bυt I don't! I was brought here to save this man's life and bring him out' all right? There's no reason to jeopardize hostages!" but Beck, who's heard enough shouts "Shut the fuck up!!". But the agent simply says to Sabian "You're off, Sabian" and Sabian looks at him and the other officers "I can't believe this. I'm just surroυnded by people who wanna go in and kill him. This is the guy yoυ called your friend! I got nothing invested in this! I wonder why that is! Maybe someday we'll find oυt".   

WARNING: BIG SPOILER COMING UP!!!

And last of all is the scene where the corrupt cops turn up at Niebaum's house and Danny taunts them and after that, Frost appears on the scene and its revealed he is the mastermind behind the setup who wards off the cops and sends them outside. And in the scene Sabian bluffs Frost into believing he wants in on the disability fund scam. 

So, in the scene Sabian says to Frost "Do you like westerns, Frost? I can't get enough of them. My favourites have always been the ones where the hero dies at the end. You remember Shane, Danny?" and Danny puzzled asks "What?" and Sabian says "I think you're right, Danny. Shane dies at the end" and he suddenly shoots Danny in his side, who falls down and he says to Frost "So you killed Nathan and I killed Danny. Only I hold the evidence, so I think I'm in a pretty good position to negotiate". So, as Frost admits to setting up Danny and spending most of his take from the fund, Sabian negotiates to taking 35% of the funds he doesn't have and he says to Frost "You should have been a negotiator" and hands over the floppy disks allegedly containing the incriminating files and Frost crushes them and shoots Niebaum's computer before leaving. 

The supporting cast are also great which includes J.T. Walsh who gives a rather sinister performance as the Internal affairs investigator, Niebaum, who Danny captures and questions during the seige.  This was one of J.T. Walsh's last performances of his career as he sadly passed away in 1998, the year of the film's release.  

And J.T. has a couple of notable scenes that include the one where Danny questions Niebaum over his investigation into the disability fund scam. So, Danny asks Niebaum "When did you first find out Nate was investigating the fund?" and Niebaum takes a moment and says "I first found out that Nate was investigating the fund after I spoke to you after he was killed" and Danny smiles and says "You're lying and I KNOW you're lying". And Niebaum smiles and says "Oh, you know it, huh? You can read my mind, is that it, Roman?" and Danny shakes his head and says "No, I'm reading your eyes. The eyes cannot lie". 

So, Danny asks Niebaum again "Now let's try this again. What's favourite TV show?" and Niebaum warily says "I'm not gonna play your stupid fucking game, Roman" and Danny teases him and says "Why not, Niebaum? Are you afraid we'll catch you in a lie?". So, Danny asks him again "When did you find out Nate was investigating the fund?" and Niebaum quickly says "After I spoke with you" and Rudy, who is also handcuffed and captive in the room says "Now that was a fuckin lie if I ever saw one!" and Niebaum angrily says "Fuck you! I never blinked once your fuckin pig!". Danny then asks Niebaum "One last question. Do you know who killed Nate?" and Niebaum eyes dart up and down and he leans forward and says firmly to Danny "You!".

And last of all is the scene where Danny interrogates Niebaum again and asks him "Who killed Nate? They killed Nate, Niebaum! Don't you think they'll kill you too?!" and Niebaum says nothing and Danny snaps and shouts "FUCK IT!" and he opens the door to a room next door where the window is blown out a police chopper circles outside. And Danny drags Niebaum's chair toward the room as Niebaum shouts "What the fuck are you doing?!! I know nothing! Don't put me in that room!".

However as Danny continues to drag Niebaum into the room, Niebaum finally relents and shouts "OK! OK! Just don't put me in that room! Νate came to me With taps. I went to the guys who were implicated in the taps. They offered me money to lose the evidence. I did it. Okay? It was a one-time deal! They offered the same thing to Nate. They killed him". Danny then asks "Who's on the taps?!" and Niebaum says nothing and Danny yells "WHO'S ON THE FUCKIN TAPS??!!" and Niebaum shouts "ALL YOUR FRIENDS! Argento, Hellman" and Niebaum says "That's bullshit!" and Niebaum insists "I have proof! I have taps talking about how they took money out of the fund". Danny then asks "Where are those taps?! Are they on the computer?" and Niebaum says "No! I have them somewhere safe!". 

Paul Giamatti is also really good in his role as Rudy Timmons, a former con-man who is one of Danny's hostages.  

Giamatti also gets some good dialogue in the film such as the scene where after he has been taken hostage, he sits on the floor, handcuffed and Danny recognises him and says "You're Rudy Timmons. You're a rat for the rat squad. I arrested you for credit card fraud back in 92. Don't you remember?". And Rudy smiles and says "Oh, yeah I remember you. Hey man! The last time I saw you, you were a clean cut boy in blue. What happened to you, man?" and Danny says "Well. that's what we're here to find out, Rudy".

And then there is the scene where Rudy becomes angry and impatient at being held captive and he says  "This nothing to with me and Maggie. So you gotta let us go. Once you familiarize yourself with the chains of bondage you prepare your own limbs to wear them.  Abraham Lincoln said that and I believe him.  So you have gotta get me the fuck out! NOW!!". And Niebaum tells Rudy "Just keep calm and quiet, we can handle this" and Rudy angrily says to him "Don't tell me to be quiet and don't tell me you can handle this because none of you have been in a situation like this before!" and Niebaum says "Just shut the fuck up" and Rudy angrily shouts "Fuck you!!".  

 And also later on when Danny tells them that they have apparently found Nate's informant, Ruddy yells in relief and says to Niebaum "Yes! Congratulations Maggie. You are free to go! Inspector, fuck you very much! Thank you! Thank you! Let my people go!!" and he shakes his handcuff and says" Come on, man give it up!".  

And last of all is the scene where after the breach is over and the hostages released, Beck questions Rudy who refuses to talk over what he knows. Rudy tells the cops "I know what the fuck was going on. Alot of shit happened out here" and Al, the police commander says to him "You must know something" and Rudy remains stubborn and says "Yoυ know something? I would really like to help' bυt my lips are sealed. Frankly, I don't trust any of you fucking guys and I'm very disappointed in all of yoυ!".   

Ron Rifkin is also very good in his role as Commander Frost, who Danny takes hostage and Danny asks him what he thinks and Frost says . So Frost says to Danny "Dan, what do you think you can do? Take a look at that screen. They think yoυ're a killer, Danny. They're gonna try to take you out.
What do yoυ think Sabian can do? Ηe can't do anything to stop this". And Danny asks Frost "What about you, Frost? Do you think I killed Nate?" and Frost after a pause says "I don't know what to think, Danny.  But I'll tell you this, Danny boy.  What you're doing isn't helping".

And last of all is the scene near the end where Frost reveals himself to be the ring leader behind the fund scam as he enters Niebaum's house and orders off the corrupt cops there. 

So, in the scene Frost arrives and tells the corrupt officers "Stand down! Put your weapons down and move you asses out of here!". And Danny surprised says "Frost?!" and Frost says "Yeah. Danny' it's me, Frost. Yeah, Danny, I'm ordering them off. I'm locking them oυt now. It's just yoυ and me' buddy.
Listen, Danny, I know you're scared. I know you don't trust anyone. A lot of shit Went down. I don't even understand some of it myself. Come on oυt, Danny. Yoυ have my sυpport". 

And as Frost moves into the house, Sabian who has been watching him enter the house using a broken piece of glass from a mirror suddenly appears and holds Danny at gunpoint and bluffs Frost into believing he wants in on the scam. So, after Sabian shoots Danny, he says to him "I want in. I want 60 percent of everything you've taken" and Frost says "I can't give you what I don't have. Yoυ see, I spent a lot of my take. I don't know how mυch Allen' Ηellman and Argento have. We used a lot of it to set Roman υp". So the two men negotiate down as they both agree on 35% of the take and Sabian says to him "You should have been a negotiator" and he hands over the disks, which Frost crushes in his hands and shoots Niebaum's computer before leaving and going outside where a whole squad of cops wait for him. And Frost says to them all "Danny Roman is dead. He's been shot" but then we hear Sabian's voice come over the police radio as he helps Danny up. 
 
David Morse is also good in his role as the gruff and hotheaded Commander Beck, who is in full favour of taking Danny out.  

And he gets some good moments such as when he attempts to make an assault on Danny and he tells one of his sniper men, Palermo to take a shot if he gets Danny in view and one of snipers say he has a shot, but is reluctant to take it and Beck yells "Don't tell me copy!  Just pull the fucking trigger!". However the sniper says "Sir, I cannot take that shot!" and Beck angrily tells Palermo "Bring it in, Palermo. You are relieved" and Palmero puts down his rifle and steps away. 

Then there is the scene where Beck raises his concerns to Sabian over how Danny will manipulate the situation as he is one of them, and he says "You don't know this man, lieυtenant! Ηe's manipulating this situation. Look what he did to Palermo. Ηe's gonna fυck With every single fucking one of you....if we give him enoυgh time and he knows yoυ'll do it. Ηe knows how yoυ fucking work!!".

WARNING: BIG SPOILER COMING UP!!

And last of all is the scene near the end where Frost reveals himself as the mastermind of the disability fund theft and Nate's murder and framing Danny for it. And as Frost stands infront of his fellow police officers, having been rumbled, he attempts to take his own life with his gun but Beck quickly shoots him in the shoulder and Frost falls down on the ground. And Beck then approaches Frost and cuffs him on the ground and tells him "You're not getting off that easy!"

And finally John Spencer is also very good in his role as the police chief Al Travis, who is forced to give up Danny as the charges of murder are filed against him.

And there are a couple of scenes worth mentioning for Spencer that include the one where Travis brings Danny into his office to relinquish his gun and badge. 

So, Travis reluctantly says to Danny "Sit down, Danny. Danny' I'm gonna be honest with yoυ. I don't know what to think....but I don't have any choice...υntil this Internal Affairs investigation is complete.
So your gυn and your badge".  Danny insists "Chief you know I'm being set up. Nate told me his informant knows who's involved. You help me find him, this all goes away" but Travis just gives him a look and Danny takes out his gun and badge and puts them down along with a single bullet from his gun. 

And lastly there is the scene where Travis questions Maggie, who is reluctant to talk to the police after Danny has escaped with Sabian. Travis says to a silent Maggie "Yoυ gotta help us out here. I know What you're feeling. I know you sympathize with Danny...but we need to stop him before he does something dangerous. Yoυ don't want anyone else hυrt, do you? Yoυ know something, yoυ don't tell υs' that's obstruction of jυstice! Wanna go to jail?!". So, Maggie finally says "He want Niebaum's house" and Travis asks "Why did he go there? Maggie, why did he go there?" and Maggie remains silent. 

Regina Taylor also does a good job with her smaller role of Karen, Danny's suffering wife who is having to deal with the emotional strain of Danny's hostage situation.

And I will mention a couple of her scenes that include the one where Karen is brought to the police scene to be questioned. So, Sabian introduces himself to her and Karen says "Do you know, Danny?" and Sabian says "No" and Karen tells him "Doesn't it matter to you that he didn't do those things. You have to help him" and Sabian tells her "I have no idea of his innocence. So, if you want to help answer Tonray's questions and we'll get someone to drive you home and Karen insists "No! I'm NOT leaving!". Sabian tells Karen "Mrs Roman, you bring tension and emotion to a scene that already has too much of both" but Karen insists "I am NOT leaving my husband!" and Sabian gives in and says "Fine, just go with Tonray answer his questions and stay in case we need you.". 

And lastly there is the scene where Sabian tries to bluff Danny by pretending he has found Nate's informant only for it to backfire. So, after Sabian has been found out by Danny, Danny's team members express their disgust. And Sabian shouts at them "I don't know who's innocent! That's what I'm trying to find out!" and Karen angrily tells Sabian "Don't bring me in here to be a part of one of your charades again!" and she slaps him in the face and storms out. 

And last of all is Siobhan Fallon as Maggie, Niebaum's office assistant who is held hostage by Danny during the siege. 

And Fallon has some good scenes that include the one where Danny introduces himself to Maggie, whom he has cuffed and he asks "You're Niebaum's secretary right? What's your name?" and Maggie corrects him and says "My name is Maggie and I am his assistant". Danny then says "Well don't be scared. I'm kind of familiar to situations like this" and Maggie irritated tells him "I'm not scared. I've been mυgged twice, once at gunpoint. Guns are not new to me....but I'd rather avoid them if I get the chance".

And lastly there is the scene where Maggie is annoyed when Frost insists that Maggie be let go as she is a woman while she tries to settle down tensions between Niebaum and Rudy. And Maggie says to the men "All right, that's enough. Ηe's gonna hear yoυ oυt there, and he's got the gun' so he's in charge. Both of you just pipe down now!". Frost then says to Danny "Danny, I think you should let Maggie. She's a woman..." and Maggie annoyed interrupts and says "I didn't ask to be let go because I'm a woman. I hate that crap. Me and him should be let go because we had nothing to do with this.
- It's between you cops. - We have nothing to do with this!".

DIRECTOR AND MUSIC

As for the director, F Gary Gray (but what does he F stand for???) does an excellent job here as he skillfully builds up the suspense as the film progresses.  And despite the film clocking in at 2 hours and 20 minutes it never really drags and Gray also manages to keep the pacing fairly tight as well as doing a fine job with the film's action scenes. Although he is somewhat guilty of the odd visual cliche such as the slow-mo walking away from an explosion as we see with Danny throwing a flash grenade at bank of computer desks and walking away as it explodes. That aside, he does a solid job.  

The film's music score is also very worthy of note as it was done by New Zealand composer, Graeme Revell and its a very good score which is both suspenseful and dramatic and is perfectly suited to the film's intense tone. Revell also would go on to score plenty of other films such as Pitch Black and Sin City.   

FLAWS (Warning this section may contain spoilers!!)   

So getting onto the flaws...yeah the Negotiator isn't a perfect film, so it does have a few worth mentioning.

For starters, The Negotiator is simply once again having to suspend your disbelief as to how improbable the whole situation is, as while Danny is innocent of murder, he IS guilty of taking hostages and creating a hostage crisis!  Although this is even acknowledged at one point in the film by Sabian who says "There are ways to prove your innocence.  This is hardly one of them".  No kidding!!  And despite Danny having created a hostage situation and his old police buddies went even as far as trying to take him out during the film, after Danny has cleared his name at the end, they are still willing to sweep the whole hostage crisis under the carpet as though it never really happened as far as Danny was concerned!  

And trust is almost immediately re-established between Danny and his fellow police officers, which is pretty silly and far fetched to say the least especially as for e.g. the SWAT commander, Beck, is just itching to kill Danny throughout most of the movie. And yet at the end of the film regarding Roman he's like "We have an officer down here! We need help!". So, yeah its a bizarre shift in tone from all out for killing this guy and next minute saving him.

I also thought the film's ending was a bit lame (PLOT SPOILER AHEAD!!) with the showdown at Niebaum's house and the corrupt cops showing up, as Danny taunts them he in effect gets them to admit their own culpability in the scam.  And Sabian's bluff with Frost at the end is also really daft and I find it totally bizarre that Frost would accept that Sabian has become a turncoat as well but surely you'd think that Frost must know that Sabian is bluffing, as the man is a negotiator after all!  Yet somehow Frost doesn't twig this and he ends up getting caught and arrested by his own men.  

Also there is a misconception in film's that if you shoot a computer that you won't be able to retrieve data off it from the hard drive, which is what Frost does to Niebaum's computer (as well as his office computer) in an effort to destroy any of the wiretaps he was alleged to have on it.  When in the fact I'm sure you could open up the computer and take out the hard drive and put it in another computer and it would probably work. This is where a digital forensics team e.g. would come in and actually use their skills to retrieve whatever data is on there.   

Anyway that's it for the flaws.

SUM UP

So, to sum up, The Negotiator remains a very solid and entertaining police thriller, which features some excellent performances from its two leads Samuel L Jackson and Kevin Spacey (even if the guy is a creep in real life!). The film is also well directed by F. Gary Gray and well paced throughout and even though the film's plot is pretty far fetched its still worth checking out.

So I will give The Negotiator:

8 out of 10 

So, that's it for now, see you in the next one!