The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie Review

Abandon disbelief all ye who enter here...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown November 7, 2009

There's no greater cinematic sin than releasing a trailer that reveals the full width and breadth of a film. The Negotiator was billed as a shocking, unpredictable thriller designed to keep audiences guessing; a well-cast '90s powerhouse with rapidfire twists and turns aplenty. That is until its theatrical trailer, in just two minutes and twenty-three seconds, gave viewers a complete preview of every action beat, story development, and surprise it had to offer (in chronological order, no less). It remains one of the most infuriating trailers of all time; a joke amongst cinephiles who love to mock its narrator's intense summation of the entire plot. However, while it's capable of instantly transforming a first viewing of The Negotiator into a second, it also illuminates the film's biggest problem. After the initial suspense wears off, after the thrill of the third act fades away, once viewers return for another helping of Jackson v. Spacey, obvious plot holes and contrivances become oh-so-apparent, nearly overshadowing its cast's stirring performances, several smartly conceived action sequences, and quite a few nail-biting encounters.

Fingers: when pointing a gun isn't enough.

Lieutenant Danny Roman is the best hostage negotiator in Chicago. In a perfect world, that would be enough, but in this department, an honest cop is an easy target. Now, to clear his name, he's taking the police hostage and demanding his own negotiator. I'd continue with the trailer's synopsis just to score a few easy laughs, but it's there -- at the forty second mark -- that it begins to reveal every, little thing there is to know about the film. Suffice to say, Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) storms the offices of Internal Affairs Inspector Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) after being accused of killing his partner (Paul Guilfoyle). Using his training and experience as a negotiator to stay one step ahead of the police, he demands an outside negotiator, Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey), he knows has no ties to his department. His goal? To convince Sabian he's innocent and flush out the real killer; a corrupt cop he knows is hiding in plain sight among the officers poised just beyond his barricaded doors. Can Roman prove his innocence? Can he uncover the truth in time to save himself and his family? Can he resist becoming the sort of crazed, gun-wielding madman he's been negotiating with for years?

Once upon a time, I was in love with The Negotiator. I was still a young pup developing his taste buds; a youngling who required little more than convincing performances and a snake-slick story to get his blood pumping. I was already a fan of Jackson and Spacey -- the former from the many winters I spent nuzzling up to Pulp Fiction, the latter from an intense affair I had with The Usual Suspects -- so director F. Gary Gray's police thriller quickly became a mainstay in my first DVD player. But as I've returned to the film over the years, I've become less and less infatuated with its wares. I've grown weary of its incredible leaps in logic, its at-times ludicrous developments, and its deck-of-cards structure. I've found myself wishing a more challenging, nuanced filmmaker, a Mann or an Eastwood, had been given the opportunity to explore the psyches of the two hostage negotiators at the center of Kevin Fox and James DeMonaco's tale. The addition of more seasoned, less sensational screenwriters wouldn't have hurt either. Each time I return to the film, I find myself asking the same questions with increasing dissatisfaction. Are we to really believe Jackson's character could survive so many assaults from so many highly trained gunmen? Are we to really believe these same lawmen would have such a difficult time setting aside their camaraderie when a man is pointing a gun at innocent hostages and fellow officers? Are we to really believe our harrowed hero would walk away from such an ordeal without suffering any serious consequences?

All that being said, part of me can't help but enjoy watching Jackson and Spacey go mano-a-mano in Gray's high-concept film, even when it borrows so liberally from The Fugitive and other innocent-man-accused-of-wrong-doing thrillers. Whether face to face or separated by now-quaint '90s technology, the two actors inhabit their characters, bringing a welcome dose of gravitas and legitimacy to a production so desperate to trade in integrity for another flashbang breach. There are plenty of talented supporting actors on hand as well, eagerly lending their effective hands to the film's headliners. David Morse (one of Hollywood's most underused performers) brings electricity to a series of otherwise static debates, L.A. Confidential's Ron Rifkin does his part, and Paul Giamatti and J.T. Walsh provide Roman's hostages with some much-needed personality. And even though the screenplay is undeniably shaky, it at least never collapses. Gray, DeMonaco, and Fox serve up some exciting, dare I say intelligent confrontations, provide Jackson and Spacey with sharp and snazzy dialogue, and stage a slew of compelling action scenes. There's even a touch of humor nestled between the chaos, granting the film palpable heart even in the midst of its most mind-maddening sequences.

The Negotiator remains a product of its time; a performance-driven thriller that plays it too fast, too loose and, ultimately, too safe to be as mesmerizing in 2009 as it was to some in 1998. Despite its shortcomings though, I'm still somewhat fond of its breakneck pacing and whodunit atmosphere, enough so that I'm almost -- almost -- tempted to overlook its most grievous transgressions. Will it ever be the film it was eleven years ago? I doubt it. Will it ever find a new audience? Probably not. Will it ever be remembered as anything more than a clash of its two towering titans? No. Regardless, The Negotiator is worth a rent. Although, I suppose you could save yourself a lot of time and just watch the trailer.

The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Negotiator cozies up to your home theater with a solid 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, minor mishaps not withstanding, looks considerably better than its standard DVD counterpart. Russell Carpenter's palette tends to favor murky browns and chilly grays, but Warner's presentation still manages to impress, injecting stark reds, suitably resolved blacks, and natural skintones into the proceedings. Yes, delineation leaves something to be desired, but the level of foreground detail more than makes up for it. Fine textures are revealing (particularly during close-ups), edges are crisp and clean, and overall clarity is more striking than ever before. Soft shots pop up on occasion, but each one should be attributed to the film's original print, not the studio's technical transfer. It helps that the image is practically spotless. Aside from some sneeze-and-you'll-miss-it print damage, I didn't catch any significant ringing, artifacting, source noise, or banding. In fact, a faint veneer of grain frequents the image, granting the presentation a faithful, filmic appearance. I doubt anyone will grab The Negotiator when showcasing their HD setup, but fans will be pleased.

The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Negotiator's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track leaves something to be desired. Dialogue is generally intelligible and well prioritized, but sometimes slips beneath the waves of whirring helicopters and smashing glass. LFE support is aggressive during action sequences, but timid whenever guns are holstered. Moreover, the front-heavy soundfield doesn't leave much room for rear speaker activity. Granted, every time the police try to breach good ol' Sam's inner sanctum, a welcome flurry of directional effects but, for the most part, the rather chatty soundscape is firmly anchored to the screen. That's not to suggest anything is wrong per se, just that the sonics are a bit more underwhelming than most viewers will expect. On a more positive note, pans are smooth, gunshots and explosions pack punch, and Jackson's patented screams are crystal clear. Would I have liked to be blown out of my home theater? Absolutely. Alas, the track offers little more than a decent, above average catalog experience. It's certainly an improvement over both previously released DVD mixes, but it isn't quite as involving or immersive as I had hoped.

The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sadly, the supplemental package consists of just two featurettes. "The 11th Hour: Stories from a Real Life Negotiator" (SD, 7 minutes) gives LAPD Negotiator Todd Rheingold an opportunity to discuss the unique challenges he's faced over the course of his career. He's an engaging storyteller, but I would have rather listened to him dissect the scene-specific merits and factual inaccuracies of the film in an audio commentary. Elsewhere, a lengthier featurette called "On Location: Why Chicago" (SD, 17 minutes) reveals the reasons the filmmakers chose the Windy City. A theatrical trailer (SD, 2 minutes) rounds out the dishearteningly slim package.

The Negotiator Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Negotiator routinely falls flat, riddled with plot holes, contrivances, and leap-frogging logic. However, Jackson and Spacey's scene-chewing performances -- as well as some crafty twists and turns in the screenplay -- save the film from bargain bin hell, making this decidedly '90s popcorn thriller worth a look. As for Warner's Blu-ray edition, it's comparable to the studio's other recent, second-tier catalog releases. In other words, a release that delivers a strong video transfer, a semi-decent lossless mix, and an all-too-limited supplemental package. Thankfully, nothing comes as a major disappointment (particularly when taking the disc's relatively low price point into account). As it stands, fans will be happy with their purchase, newcomers will be satisfied with a rental, and critical cinephiles will still wonder what all the fuss is about.