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The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $15.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A Real Disappointment
Review: The only surprise in this film was the incredibly far-fetched conclusion. After a masterpiece like "Homicide", I expected more from Mamet.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Entertaining to a point, but no depth
Review: This is a supposedly 'intricate' movie, but really comes across as contrived. It's worth renting, but don't expect too much.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Suspenseful, intriguing, well crafted
Review: TThe Spanish Prisoner is well made. Like most mysteries, puzzlers, and lovers, the subsequent viewings are not as good as the first. But the interest drops from sufficiently high levels to make this movie worth the price and time. Seen the second time, the hints seem obvious, but Mamet has made the atmosphere so creepy that the feel of the movie, as well as the acting, is even more fascinating. The movie gets a 5, the DVD a 3.5 for lack of features (A Mamet feature-length commentary would have iced the cake.), though the video quality was great.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Terrible acting. Unbelievable dialog. Predictable plot.
Review: I cannot do better in my review than that which has gone before: "I found this movie predictable, horribly acted, and not worth the time. Most of the actors (especially Steve Martin) have this look that they would rather be somewhere else and were reading the lines straight from the script. The plot itself was easily predictable and it was obvious where it was headed." "From Campbell Scott's irritating stupidity to the aggravatingly sappy writing to the inane story, this film is void of any positives whatsoever." "The acting was flat with lines that are often cliched. I agree with previous reviewers that the actors seem as though they wish they were somewhere else."

Nobody in the real world uses such stilted dialog as these characters use. As for one needing to "pay close attention to catch the twists and turns?" They are thrown in your face! Example - The lady at the terminal saying 5 or 6 times to her child about tearing the cover on his book and getting his finger prints all over it! It was all beyond predictable. And it was nothing that hasn't been done a hundred times before in far better movies!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Real Twisted Tale!
Review: A seemingly straightforward story goes awry when an enterprising inventor creates a "process" that everyone wants. Suddenly, he doesn't know whom he can trust or who is telling the truth. Nice acting performances, well written and nicely executed. Both my wife and I would highly recommend it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Smart Thriller
Review: It seems like this movie provokes some very strong opinions. I personally thought it was excellent. This movie does require a bit of concentration, so try not to see it with people who have a short attention span and have no patience for movies that center around clever dialogue instead of action sequences. If you like movies packed full of suspence, wry humor, quirky characters and witty dialogue, this is your movie. The first thing I thought of after seeing it at the theater was, "I gotta get this movie when it comes out on video!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Oy vey!
Review: Prepare to be blown away. David Mamet has done it again with the spectacularly serpentine THE SPANISH PRISONER, featuring Steve Martin as our antagonist, in a role that seems hand-fitted for him. Scott is good as well, and Martin and Ben Gazzara are the only household names in the film. It's twisted and intriguing, and an enexpectedly fun treat.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An excellent mind game
Review: I found this film very engaging. You'll get the most out of it if you keep your brain turned on and pay attention. Steve Martin turns in an excellent non-comedic performance. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a ride!
Review: This is Mamet at his best. The plot,script,and acting all combine to make this one of the best of the genre. If you like Mamet this is a must have.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bad script, bad acting and lousy story yield a total waste
Review: Make yourself happy and rent or buy something else. This film is easily the worst I have ever seen. From Campbell Scott's irritating stupidity to the aggravatingly sappy writing to the inane story, this film is void of any positives whatsoever.

Amazingly enough, House of Games was an excellent movie. This is a flop of the highest order.


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