Spartan

Rating:
Summary: is this a comedy or a drama?
Review:

**1/2 After "First Daughter," "Chasing Liberty" and now "Spartan," it would appear that there is no task in life more challenging than being the daughter of the President of the United States. All those secret service agents and all that media attention - what's a good, clean-cut, All-American girl to do? Those first two movies were ostensibly comedies, but "Spartan" is a crime drama in which the President's daughter is abducted by kidnappers and sold into white slavery! Hey, come to think of it, maybe this movie is a comedy too. Val Kilmer is the rogue secret agent who winds up going to Dubai in search of the young woman after everyone else - the First Family included! - has given her up for dead and seemingly moved onto more important things in their lives.

As this is a David Mamet film, it takes us awhile to adjust to the movie`s pacing and style. The plotting is complex and frequently convoluted, and, as always, the characters speak in mannered, high-falutin' riddles that often serve to diminish rather than to enhance meaning and clarity. Still, it is this deliberate ambiguity, this heightened artificiality in the writing and acting that generally provide the major distinction and pleasure of any Mamet film. Unfortunately, "Spartan," despite all the cleverness of its dialogue, simply can't overcome the inherent silliness of its basic premise. The film would have us believe that the President of the United States would agree to have his daughter rubbed out by his political advisors because her rather footloose and unchaste lifestyle is becoming a drag on his reelection prospects! Once we realize that this is where the story is headed, our patience pretty much runs out, and all we are left with is an arch, pretentious film that we find increasingly difficult to take seriously.

Val Kilmer has no trouble getting into the Mamet spirit, modeling his highly stylized performance on film noir tough guys like Cagney, Bogart and Robinson. I guess that "Spartan" is itself intended as some sort of homage to the film noir genre, but there have been far better ones than this in recent years. It's true that when Mamet fails, he does so at a level much higher than most of his filmmaking contemporaries, and "Spartan" is certainly not without its assorted virtues and pleasures. It's perhaps worth seeing if you're a viewer in search of a different kind of crime drama (and aren't we all, come to think of it?), and it might be better if you go into this thinking of it as almost a parody of the genre than a straight crime drama on its own. Either way, however, be forewarned that this is not one of Mamet's better filmic efforts.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Looking. Bad Writing.
Review: "Spartan" is the eighth film written and directed by playwright David Mamet. It stars Val Kilmer as a elite secret agent with paramilitary training who does dirty work for various U.S. Government agencies. He goes by the name of Mr. Scott, but we're led to believe that's not his real name. When the President's daughter disappears from her college campus, apparently kidnapped, Mr. Scott is assigned to assist the Secret Service in finding her. They have only two days to find and retrieve Laura Newton (Kristen Bell) before the news media get ahold of the story. Scott tracks her down. A rescue mission is planned. But things aren't as they appear.

"Spartan" is not an adrenaline-pumping thriller. It's more of a puzzle. It's filmed in a shadowy, brooding style. A surprising number of scenes take place at night. "Spartan" presents an extremely cynical view of politics and power, which might be interesting if the story made any sense. Not only does the story not make sense, the dialogue doesn't either. It's conspicuously unnatural and consistently nonsensical. I think Val Kilmer's timing is poor in a few places, but it's hard to tell, because the lines are cringe-inducing anyway. Derek Luke and Tia Texada give the most memorable performances as young rookie agents Curtis and Black. I'm giving "Spartan" three stars for the cinematography by Juan Ruiz Anchia. I like the way this film looks. But the writing is just plain bad.

The DVD: Bonus features include an audio commentary by Val Kilmer and a theatrical trailer. Don't watch the trailer before the movie. It's full of spoilers. The audio commentary is interesting in spots but a little frustrating because it meanders and contains a lot of long pauses. Kilmer also frequently doesn't comment on the scene that he's looking at. It's very stream-of-consciousness. It gives more insight into Val Kilmer than into the film, so I would recommend it for his fans only.

Rating:
Summary: David mamet is a hack.
Review: "Write what you know" is a maxim that writer/director David Mamet cheerfully ignores while plotting this stunningly leaden secret agent thriller... Val (yawn) Kilmer stars as a super-secret, black ops government agent dude whose mission is to get the President's kidnapped daughter back at any cost. Turns out the President doesn't really want her back that much, though, or at least "his handlers" don't: she's threatened to expose Daddy's marital infidelities and rather than let her embarrass the President, they decide to leave her to the tender mercies of the horrid Arab slave traders who have nabbed her. Now look, I'm the biggest pinko liberal tree-hugger on the face of the planet, but even I thought this idiotic plot rang incredibly false... Preposterous plotting aside, this movie was a waste in pretty much every other regard -- the acting is uniformly mannered and dull, the dialog is a hackneyed, unnecessary rehash of Mamet's trademark circular/repetitive verbiage, and the tough-guy posturing is just plain lame -- Mamet does not have a feel for the material. Really, this movie is little more than a waste of time and talent... even William Macy, the reason I rented it, is pretty lame here, too. Don't bother with this turkey. It blows.

Rating:
Summary: Mamet is not the talent everyone would have you believe
Review: After my wife and I forced ourselves to watch the whole thing through to the end, we did a quick mental review of all the Mamet films we could think of in order to try to figure out why we had had this idea he was such a great writer. American Buffalo, The Edge, Oleana (sp?), The Spanish Prisoner and, I think, State and Main. None of them are deserving of the reputation Mamet enjoys. The Spanish Prisoner is mildly interesting, I suppose, but none of the others fall anywhere near the top of my greatest films list.

This movie was just a dull action film dressed up (and not very convincingly) as an art film or as something with intellectual appeal. The dialogue gets so fast and furious at points that, if it weren't for the all the frequent repetitions, you'd have to be rewinding all the time to hear what was said.

We gave it our best effort, but in the end, we both agreed that we'll pass on any future Mamet productions.

Rating:
Summary: Must recommend movie about moral equivalence.
Review: Although it is easy to miss beneath all the action, Trojan makes an interesting comment about moral equivalence. Most Hollywood movies are not made in the simple black and white of good or bad, but in unlimited shades of gray.
As Art imitates Life, this is as prevalent in today's movies as it is in our politics, and the reference to the Clinton administration is clear (a harmless sexual indiscretion is the equivalent of lying under oath).
The truly scary aspect of this movie is that it shows this political moral equivalence taken to extreme. However, at a certain point, the moral stakes become clear; there is a definable difference between good and evil - and suddenly the main character must make a choice between them.

Rating:
Summary: A good political thriller, but I expected more.
Review: David Mamet's "Spartan" is a taut, polished, cynically satisfying political thriller, but because it was written and directed by David Mamet, I expected something beyond that. It's too bad we should always judge Mamet by the standard of "Glengarry Glen Ross" or "House of Games," in which he really turns the klieg lights on the ugly underbelly of humanity. But since he's Mamet, it's unavoidable. He certainly makes some unlovely observations on the current state of political affairs in his tale of a coldly efficient, tough-as-nails Marine commando (Val Kilmer) sent on a mission to rescue the President's daughter from kidnappers. Mamet's script takes plenty of wild--but, in context, plausible--twists and turns, generating plenty of suspense, and the cast is impeccable. This is Kilmer's best performance since his "Tombstone" and "Doors" heyday, and it's great to see him again in a role worthy of his talents. But as good as this film is, its cynicism about the White House and the upper political echelon seems like business as usual after "The Pelican Brief" and "Clear and Present Danger." This is a very good movie, but with Mamet we've come to expect something great. It lacks his unique voice.

Rating:
Summary: Go Tell the Spartans....
Review: Director David Mamet has created a little gem of a movie. It is not flashy, it does not rely on towering effects or an outrageous amount of violence to get its point across. Instead, Spartan is a thriller that allows the viewer to utilize his or her mind in order to make the connections between the movies shadowy and alluring plot points. Many mysteries come up all throughout the movie, and it takes quite the amateur detective to figure them out. Luckily, the mystique of the movie is a great aid to the entertainment value, as one is quickly drawn into the gloomy and gritty cutthroat world that Spartan takes place in.

Val Kilmer, who delivers a riveting performance as a coldly mechanical Special Forces officer, is part of a super secret covert operations force known as "The Cadre". Kilmer is removed from his job as a training officer to undertake a highly sensitive operation. The President's daughter, a glamourous college student, has been kidnaped, and the race is on to find her before it hits the press. Kilmer is a man used to getting results, so he begins a violent rampage through the criminal network that seems to have taken the girl hostage. Through any means necessary, Kilmer soon discovers a fiendish sex slavery ring that procures young girls for overseas clients. Just as Kilmer is about to close the deal and rescue the first daughter, dark political forces way over his head step in. Kilmer realizes that some, for their own unknown motives, would prefer the first daughter stay lost, forcing him to make a difficult decision. He is just a gunman, a well trained killing machine, dynamic thought has not be allowed to him. Should he follow orders he knows are morally wrong, or go renegade and investigate for himself? Kilmer, a man of honor, makes a decision that will effect the lives of many, especially his own. He is the singular Spartan, sent to settle a military problem by himself.

The atmosphere of Spartan is the most potent aspect of the movie. It is constantly dark and shadowy, a world besmirched by brutal villains and nefarious political operatives. The shroud is only broken by the figure of Kilmer, who is a monotone but intriguing force of righteous nature, as he tears through this world of lies with a 9mm pistol and a sharp brain. The plot is well paced, slowly revealing strands of truth at appropriate points. I felt the supporting cast was a little sparse in their effect, as the normally wonderful William H. Macy is relegated to a very small part. Also, the ending, which was effectively disturbing, also struck me as ridiculous in a sense, but that is up to you to decide. Numerous cliches and unconvincing coincidences pop up, but they do not take away from the overall quality of the film. A very cerebral and fascinating thriller.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment For This Mamet Fan
Review: I like David Mamet a lot, but this one was a disappointment for me. There seemed to be two movies, the first in the U.S. to find a kidnapped girl. This is treated with intensity and action. Then, whoops, the twist and we're off to Dubai to fight kidnapping for prostitution and ruthlessness in high places, and we're again treated to intensity and action. The main guy is played by Val Kilmer as one of these humorless Hollywood heroes for whom there is no obstacle which can't be overcome and whose backstory, as they say, has hidden depths of tragedy and alienation. Mamet insures that we see the guy's back without his shirt on and it's not a pretty sight. We learn nefarious things are going on with the big man's staff (the big man is, I assume, the President and the girl's father; she's been kidnapped) and then all of a sudden William Macy takes center stage for the last ten minutes with almost no preparation. //Spoiler alert// Our hero, of course, is a loner -- which is a sure tip-off that anyone he sort of becomes close to is going to get killed. They do. Surprisingly for a Mamet film, there's not a single actor, in my opinion, who brought much interest to a part. However, one thing I liked about the movie and other Mamet films is that he doesn't explain the obvious, so you have to stay alert.

But having said all this, some film critics I like have written good reviews of the movie.

If you're interested in Mamet , take a look at The Spanish Prisoner and Heist.

Rating:
Summary: Fans of "Ronin" Will Enjoy This Film
Review: It seems to me that most of the reviewers who disliked this film either compare it to other Mamet films or read too much into it, and see a political statement where there is none (something about liberal Hollywood-types).

I'm not familiar with most of Mamet's work, nor am I a rabid partisan, so I judged this movie solely on what I saw on the screen.

It's a great film- gritty and realistic. Though I'll admit the dialogue has some jargon in it, I think the problem there is more a lack military literacy than poor writing. The jargon adds to the realism and helps create an air of mystery, and the cryptic dialogue and the way the audience is dropped into the middle of a scene's action also add to this. Additionally, it creates a sense of urgency - it forces you to hit the deck running and try to figure out what's happening, just like the main character.

The best quality of the movie is its realism - Kilmer's character isn't some sweet, good-guy type, nor is he some action-junkie muscled-up Schwarzenegger-type, as you might expect from a Hollywood movie about a hostage rescue or a Delta operator. He's a professional, and one of my favorite bits in the film is where he punches the hostage (a teenage girl) in the gut to shut her up. You don't often see these kinds of characters portrayed like that.

Rating:
Summary: Kilmer's great performance sparks this intelligent thriller!
Review: Not too long ago, I managed to check out "Spartan" at the theater. And, to me, I thought that the film was nothing short of amazing. "Spartan" had a great storyline, a powerful plot, and masterful direction by David Mamet ("Heist", "The Spanish Prisoner"). The performances of Val Kilmer ("Red Planet", "Top Gun"), Derek Luke ("Antwone Fisher", "Biker Boyz"), William H. Macy ("Jurassic Park III", "Magnolia"), Ed O'Neill ("Dutch", TV's "Married with Children"), and Kristen Bell ("Pootie Tang") were top-notch and flawless!

"Spartan" puts the focus on Robert Scott (Kilmer), a career military officer working in a highly secretive special operations force. Scott is a man hardened by years of brutal service, but is respected by his peers and elders in the world of espionage. When Scott is recruited to find Laura Newton (Bell), the daughter of a high-ranking official (more than likely, the daughter of the President of the United States), he is paired with novice Curtis (Luke), who becomes his protege. Working with a special task force comprised of presidential advisors, the Secret Service, FBI and CIA, Scott and Curtis stumble upon a sex slavery ring, which may have some connection to Laura's disappearance. As the story unfolds, the straightforward search-and-rescue mission becomes complicated by the political ambitions of those in high places. Like Stoddard (Macy), a political operative who may know more than he's telling about the clandestine circumstances surrounding the abduction of Laura. Scott and Curtis are on the brink of tracking Laura's whereabouts when the mission comes to an abrupt conclusion, with the media issuing reports of the girl's death. Scott returns to the quiet life of landowner in a rural location and awaits his next assignment in relative peace. But Curtis can't rest. In his naivete, he seeks out Scott to confide his belief that Laura is in fact alive. If she is, their continued unofficial investigation will put them, as well as Laura, at the center of a dangerous conspiracy that reaches the highest levels, even past the doors of the White House itself!

In conclusion, "Spartan" is a fine, superb, underrated thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as well as to keep you guessing from heart-pounding beginning to breathtaking finish! With powerful performances by a stellar cast and masterful direction by David Mamet, "Spartan" is nothing short of a DVD must-own when it's released!