Sunday, September 25, 2016

The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

Director: David Mamet

Writer: David Mamet

Composer: Carter Burwell

Starring: Campbell Scott, Steve Martin, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ben Gazzara, Ricky Jay, Felicity Huffman, Steven Goldstein, Jonathan Katz, Ed O'Neill, Clark Gregg, Keiko Seiko, Takeo Matsushita

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Can you really trust anyone?

Plot: An employee of a corporation with a lucrative secret process he developed is brilliantly conned out of it.



My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

Great flick.  If Mamet has anything to do with a picture, I'm on board.  I love that guy's work.  It's even better when it's written and directed by the guy.  It's also one of Steve Martin's rare (at least at the time) non-comedic roles.  If you like the spy/intrigue/drama stuff then you might just dig this one.  It's a great story with some great tension.  Burwell's brooding score helps.  The film has too much going for it to let the 'well isn't that a little too convenient/this wraps up a bit too nicely' ending.  The ending is fine but it's a smidgen too neatly cleaned up.  I really like the various methods Jimmy (Martin) used to get the information he needed.  Don't read too much about this before seeing it as it might be spoiled for you.  The Columbia DVD presents the film in anamorphic widescreen with the sole extra in a fullscreen trailer. 

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