The Spanish Prisoner
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Movie Reviews of The Spanish Prisoner
Movie Review: A very different (and welcome) kind of suspense flick
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine a suspense story set in a high tech industry with hardly a computer in sight, without gore, stereotypical characters or dialogue fashioned from the short list of words that cannot be used on network television. What's left? The Spanish Prisoner, an intelligent, quirky, well played film. Campell Scott plays Joe, an engineer who has slaved in a small boiler room office for who knows how long, creating an unnamed, unseen product that could propel his company instantly to Microsoft-like power and money. Joe is a fundamentally good person who is not so meek as to let the company walk off with his invention without at least inquiring as to how he will be compensated. He is also not above having his head turned when friendship is offered by a Gatsby type character played by Steve Martin. Thus distracted, the basically naive Joe suddenly finds himself at the center of some bad business. To reveal more is to spoil a concatenation of plot twists.
This film is executed in high style. It is written with respect for language and its rhythms. Even the surreal aspects that surround Joe touch on familiar realities. Joe's office is out of Dilbert, Kafka, Melville and all of our workplaces. The secretary played by Rebecca Pidgeon could have been that annoying girl down the hall in your freshman dormitory. The scenes of wealth shown or suggested by Martin's character tap into all our fantasies of how the jet set lives. So Joe gets sucked in; so do we.
As suspense films go, you can anticipate several of the twists, but not the last one, which is sort of a deus ex machina. By that time, though, it's clear that this isn't reality TV anyway; it's more about the human factor and what constitutes good and bad.
Movie Review: Directing falls short
Summary: 4 Stars
(4 stars is generous -- consider this a strong 3.5)David Mamet has proven his writing worth many times over. For quite some time, he has been one of the finest dramatic authors for the stage, and has recently proven his ability to write for the screen with Glengarry Glen Ross, Wag The Dog, and the excellent script that is The Spanish Prisoner. We have here the definition of a "taut thriller."
The acting is quite good. One weak spot can be found in Rebecca Pidgeon, but her flat and lackluster performance is generally made up for by Campbell Scott and Steve Martin. The acting coupled with the script immediately draws you into this intriguing story of The Process and how it affects its creator, Joe Ross (Scott).
As good as Mamet's script may be, however, his heavy-handed directing tips its hand. There are enough small hints in the dialogue, enough subtle clues in the surrounding, that the plot's twists and turns would be believable. Unfortunately, Mamet felt the need to throw a few blatant foreshadowed bits in our face to dumb down the film to be sure everyone would "get" the ending. It wasn't necessary, and it turned a great script into a good movie.
Is it worth seeing? Sure; it's a great example of how a thriller should be written. Is it worth buying to watch again and again? No. Besides, the DVD features are near nil -- it's got a trailer, and 3-channel dolby surround sound. Save your money, and make this a renter.
Movie Review: Mamet's Best
Summary: 4 Stars
If you can look beyond the usual staccato Mametian dialogue and the uneveness always caused by casting Mamet's wife Rebecca Pidgeon in the leading female role, then you've got yourself a very fine movie - probably David Mamet's best as writer/director in my opinion. I know many people will choose 'House of Games,' but I thought the 'Prisoner' storyline was better, and I really like the work turned in by Mamet novices Campbell Scott (whose combination of brains and naivete drives the film), Ben Gazzara and especially Steve Martin, who plays totally against type here.In the Mamet-penned 'Wag the Dog' we hear over and over again "It's a pageant." Replace that here with "It's a process." We hear over and over again about The Process. We never find out what exactly the Process is (that's not the point), but all actions and reactions in 'Prisoner' involve securing, stealing and resecuring The Process. It's a classic Mametian plot device and it works great here.
For Mamet fans, there's a subset of regulars, most notably Mamet house players Ricky Jay and Jerry Graff. ['Glengarry Glen Ross' fans ought to recognize that name.]
Also - be on the lookout for Ed O'Neill for a brief - but memorable - turn as an FBI Team Leader.
And keep your eyes on that suitcase.
Movie Review: For those who like clever mind games.
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is a real hour and half mind game, full of some suprising and some not so suprising plot twists. You follow the main character as he trys to decide who telling the truth, who is telling lies, and what everyones elses lies mean. The main character is a man who has created a process that will make his company a very large amount of money. The screenplay is very carefull not to say what the process is, it doesn't matter execpt that it exists, and is very valueable. While he is at a meeting in the bahamas he meets a man played by Steve Martin who might or might not be who he says he is, and begins something of a relationship with a company secratary who is always throwing out supsisious opinions about the other characters.
The rest of the movie is a complicated series of plot twists and turns. The movie challages the viewer to keep up with the plot and the mind games, and like any good mystery while the end is always one of a few standard fare, it dares you to guess how it is going to go there. This is not a movie for everybody, if you want a fast paced action thriller this isn't it. The movie depends on how much you appeciate the clever conversations and the little mind games, those who don't like these will probalbly hate this movie.
Movie Review: The Spanish Prisoner Review
Summary: 4 Stars
The Spanish Prisoner is a streamlined movie without a lot of frivolous scenes. It seems that everything from a picture taken to a casual conversation with a stranger holds meaning and will ultimately show up in the conclusion. It is wonderfully thought provoking and detailed with likable, naïve and misguided characters that iron out the twisting plot in comprehendible style.
The characters play their roles to perfection, from a nervous workaholic, to a rich traveler, to a completely clueless secretary. David Mamet's brilliant character development and story progression is one thing missing in many of today's high budget star studded films. This movie on the other hand stays true to the theme and offers realistic casting.
Overall, this film is one of the best I have seen in some time and I strongly suggest it be at least seen, if not purchased immediately. If you like a plot in your movies this is the one to see.