The Negotiator is a taut action-thriller centered on police negotiator Danny Roman, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson. Roman is framed for embezzlement and the murder of his partner and, in a desperate attempt to clear his name, takes hostages at the Chicago Internal Affairs Division. He demands that another expert negotiator, Chris Sabian (played by Kevin Spacey), handle the situation, believing Sabian to be neutral and objective.
As the tense standoff unfolds, Roman and Sabian engage in a battle of wits, exposing corruption within the police department. The film deftly combines action, psychological drama, and moral complexity, making for a gripping experience.
The Negotiator explores themes of trust, betrayal, and systemic corruption, resonating with audiences during the late 1990s. Critics praised the film’s pacing, performances, and intricate plot, though some noted that it leaned on conventional action-thriller tropes. The interplay between Jackson and Spacey was especially highlighted as a key strength of the film.
Cast
- Jackson, Samuel L. (December 21, 1948 – ) – Played Lieutenant Danny Roman, a skilled police negotiator who takes hostages to prove his innocence after being framed for embezzlement and murder – Together for Days, Coming to America, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Sea of Love, Mo’ Better Blues, The Exorcist III, Goodfellas, The Return of Superfly, Strictly Business, Jungle Fever, Johnny Suede, Patriot Games, White Sands, Loaded Weapon 1, Jurassic Park, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker, Kiss of Death, Die Hard with a Vengeance, A Time to Kill, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Jackie Brown, Sphere, The Negotiator, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Deep Blue Sea, Rules of Engagement, Shaft, Unbreakable, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, XXX, No Good Deed, Basic. S.W.A.T., Twisted, Kill Bill: Volume 2, The Incredibles, XXX: State of the Union, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Snakes on a Plane, Cleaner, Jumper, Iron Man, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Astro Boy, Inglourious Basterds, Unthinkable, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Arena, 2012, The Avengers, Django Unchained, RoboCop, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Cell, The Legend of Tarzan, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Kong: Skull Island, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Avengers: Infinity War, Incredibles 2, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Shaft, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Banker, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, The Protégé, The Kill Room, The Marvels, The Garfield Movie, Afterburn, The Beast, TV episodes of Movin’ On, Spenser: For Hire, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Secret Invasion, Marvel Studios: Assembled
- Spacey, Kevin (July 26, 1959 – ) – Played Lieutenant Chris Sabian, an experienced negotiator brought in to defuse the hostage crisis and uncover the truth – Heartburn, Working Girl, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Consenting Adults, Iron Will, The Usual Suspects, Outbreak, Se7en, A Time to Kill, L.A. Confidential, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Negotiator, A Bug’s Life, American Beauty, Pay It Forward, K-PAX, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Superman Returns, Fred Claus, 21, Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, Moon, Shrink, Horrible Bosses, Captain Phillips, Horrible Bosses 2, Nine Lives, Baby Driver, Billionaire Boys Club, Once Upon a Time in Croatia, TV episodes The Equalizer, Benton, L.A. Law, Saturday Night Live, House of Cards
- Morse, David (October 11, 1953 – ) – Played Commander Adam Beck, a police commander who is skeptical of Roman’s motives during the standoff – Inside Moves, Max Dugan Returns, The Getaway, 12 Monkeys, The Rock, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Contact, The Negotiator, The Green Mile, Hounddog, Disturbia, The Hurt Locker, Collaborator, World War Z, TV episodes Nurse, St. Elsewhere (137 ep), Tales from the Crypt, SeaQuest DSV, Hack (40 ep), House, John Adams, Medium, Robot Chicken, Outsiders (26 ep), The Chair (6 ep)
- Rifkin, Ron (October 31, 1939 – ) – Played Commander Grant Frost, an authority figure within the police department whose loyalty and integrity are questioned – The Devil’s 8, Silent Running, The Big Fix, The Sting II, Wolf, L.A. Confidential, The Negotiator, Dragonfly, The Sum of All Fears, A Star Is Born, Funny Pages, TV episodes Gidget, Room 222, The Sandy Duncan Show, Adam’s Rib, The Bob Newhart Show, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barnaby Jones, Cannon, Kojak, The Rockford Files, McMillan & Wife, The Tony Randall Show, Columbo, Alice, Knots Landing, One Day at a Time (16 ep), Falcon Crest, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, ER, Leaving L.A. (6 ep), The Outer Limits, Alias, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife, Gotham, Limitless (12 ep), Elementary, New Amsterdam (7 ep)
- Spencer, John (December 20, 1946 – December 16, 2005) – Played Chief Al Travis, the chief of police who must navigate the crisis and maintain order.- WarGames, Sea of Love, Black Rain, Presumed Innocent, The Rock, The Negotiator, TV episodes The Patty Duke Show (7 ep), Ryan’s Hope, Miami Vice, Spenser: For Hire, Another World, As the World Turns, Law & Order, L.A. Law (71 ep), Duckman, Touched by an Angel, F/X: The Series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The West Wing (135 ep), The Outer Limits
- Walsh, J. T. (September 28, 1943 – February 27, 1998) – Played Inspector Terence Niebaum, an Internal Affairs officer whose actions are pivotal to uncovering the department’s corruption – Eddie Macon’s Run, Tin Men, Good Morning, Vietnam, Tequila Sunrise, The Big Picture, Wired, Dad, Misery, Backdraft, A Few Good Men, Sniper, Loaded Weapon 1, The Last Seduction, The Client, Miracle on 34th Street, Outbreak, The Babysitter, Breakdown, The Negotiator, Pleasantville, TV episodes The Edge of Night (9 ep), Spenser: For Hire, The Equalizer, L.A. Law, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The X Files, Dark Skies (19 ep)
- Guilfoyle, Paul (April 28, 1949 – ) – Played Nathan “Nate” Roenick (uncredited), Roman’s partner whose murder sets the events of the film in motion – Howard the Duck, Beverly Hills Cop II, Three Men and a Baby, Wall Street, Cadillac Man, Hoffa, Mrs. Doubtfire, Striptease, Ransom, L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, The Negotiator, TV episodes Spenser: For Hire, Miami Vice, Kate & Allie, Wiseguy, The Equalizer, Law & Order, M.A.N.T.I.S., New York Undercover, Ally McBeal, Secret Agent Man, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Justice League Unlimited, Star Trek: Discovery, CSI: Vegas, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Video Games
- Fallon, Siobhan (May 13, 1961 – ) – Played Maggie, a police officer involved in the hostage crisis – Greedy, Forrest Gump, Striptease, Fools Rush In, Men in Black, The Negotiator, Daddy Day Care, Charlotte’s Web, The Bounty Hunter, TV episodes The Golden Girls, Saturday Night Live (20 ep), Seinfeld (3 ep), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 30 Rock, Sonny with a Chance, MacGyver, Elementary
- Giamatti, Paul (June 6, 1967 – ) – Played Rudy Timmons, a nervous and quirky hostage who becomes an unlikely ally to Roman – Singles, Sabrina, Donnie Brasco, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Deconstructing Harry, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, Dr. Dolittle, The Negotiator, Man on the Moon, Planet of the Apes (2001), Big Fat Liar, The Illusionist, Lady in the Water, The Hangover Part II, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Jungle Cruise, TV episodes of NYPD Blue, King of the Hill, Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Rick and Morty, Black Mirror, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
- Taylor, Regina (August 22, 1960 – ) – Played Karen Roman, Danny Roman’s supportive wife, who believes in his innocence – Lean on Me, Losing Isaiah, Clockers, Courage Under Fire, The Negotiator, TV episodes of I’ll Fly Away (38 ep), Law & Order, The Education of Max Bickford (22 ep), The Unit (69 ep), Grey’s Anatomy, Elementary, The Blacklist, CSI: Vegas
- Cudlitz, Michael (December 29, 1964 – ) – Played Palermo, a member of the SWAT team tasked with resolving the standoff – A River Runs Through It, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Grosse Pointe Blank, The Negotiator, Running Scared, Crossing Over, Driven, TV episodes of Band of Brothers (10 ep), Homeland Security, 21 Jump Street, L.A. Law, Step by Step, Growing Pains, Beverly Hills, 90210 (11 ep), Picket Fences, The Marshal, ER, Party of Five, Touched by an Angel, NYPD Blue, Home Improvement, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chicago Hope, Walker, Texas Ranger, Six Feet Under, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 24 (3 ep), JAG, Nip/Tuck, 24, Without a Trace, CSI: NY, Bones, Criminal Minds, Lost, Knight Rider, Saving Grace, Southland (43 ep), The Walking Dead (30 ep), Young Sheldon, Clarice, Superman & Lois, Call of Duty Video Games
- Gómez, Carlos (January 1, 1962 – ) – Played Eagle, another member of the tactical unit involved in the operation – Hard to Kill, Desperado, Fools Rush In, The Peacemaker, The Negotiator, The Replacement Killers, Enemy of the State, TV episodes of ER, Friends, Charmed, NYPD Blue, NCIS, 24, Monk, Criminal Minds, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, NCIS: New Orleans, The Blacklist, Elementary
- Kelleher, Tim (October 4, 1956 – ) – Played Argento, a colleague involved in managing the crisis – The Understudy: Graveyard Shift II, Black Rain – Malcolm X, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Terminal Velocity, Operation Dumbo Drop, Clockers, Never Talk to Strangers, The Birdcage, Executive Decision, Independence Day, The Negotiator, Thirteen Days, Matchstick Men, Inception
- Norris, Dean (April 8, 1963 – ) – Played Scott, a supporting officer in the tense situation – Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, Lethal Weapon 2, Hard to Kill, Total Recall, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Lawnmower Man, The Firm, Gattaca, Starship Troopers, The Negotiator, The Cell, Little Miss Sunshine, Evan Almighty, The Heartbreak Kid, The Frozen Ground, Death Wish, TV Episodes of The Equalizer, NYPD Blue, Married… with Children, The X-Files, Murder One, Dark Skies, The Pretender, Nash Bridges, V.I.P., ER, Walker, Texas Ranger, Millennium, Charmed, Boston Public, Six Feet Under, JAG, 24, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Nip/Tuck, Grey’s Anatomy, Breaking Bad, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Bones, True Blood, Lost, Criminal Minds, Lie to Me, Medium, CSI: NY, Castle, The Mentalist, Under the Dome (39 Ep), The Big Bang Theory, Better Call Saul, Law & Order: Organized Crime
- Serrano, Nestor (November 5, 1955 – ) – Played Hellman, a law enforcement officer during the crisis – The Money Pit, Lethal Weapon 2, Bad Boys, The Negotiator, The Day After Tomorrow, Act of Valor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sniper: Legacy, TV Episodes of Hunter, True Blue 12 ep, The X-Files, Witchblade (10 ep), ER, CSI: Miami, 24 (10 ep), Criminal Minds, Fringe, Burn Notice, 90210 (7 ep), Dexter, Revenge (5 ep), Love, Death & Robots
- Thomas, Leonard (August 1, 1958 – ) – Played Allen, one of the hostages whose actions contribute to the plot’s progression – School Daze, The Return of Superfly, Malcolm X, Major Payne, Clockers, A Time to Kill, The Negotiator, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, XXX, S.W.A.T., Twisted, The Shaggy Dog, TV Episodes of Law & Order, The Sin Within (4 ep)
- Lee, Stephen (November 11, 1955 – August 14, 2014) – Played Farley, a minor character in the police department – WarGames, La Bamba, RoboCop 2, The Pit and the Pendulum, Who Do I Gotta Kill?, Carnosaur 3: Primal Species, The Negotiator, Burlesque, TV Episodes of The Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Family Ties, Babylon 5, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Nash Bridges (7 ep), The West Wing, Boston Legal, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer
- Hall, Robert David (November 9, 1947 – ) – Played Cale Wangro, a character involved in the film’s investigation – Deal of the Century, Starship Troopers, The Negotiator, TV Episodes of G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Highway to Heaven, Life Goes On, L.A. Law, Batman: The Animated Series, Beverly Hills, 90210 (3 ep), Party of Five, The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Touched By an Angel, The West Wing, Batman Beyond, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (325 ep), Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Batman, Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix, Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens, CSI: Immortality
- Bower, Tom (January 3, 1938 – ) – Uncredited as Omar, an unhinged man whom Danny negotiates with at the beginning of the film – Two-Minute Warning, Beverly Hills Cop II, Distant Thunder, Wired, Die Hard 2, Aces: Iron Eagle III, Raising Cain, Nixon, The Million Dollar Hotel, High Crimes, The Negotiator, The Hills Have Eyes, 13 Sins, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, TV Episodes of The Rockford Files, The Waltons (26 ep), The Bionic Woman, Lou Grant, Barnaby Jones, Hill Street Blues, Murder, She Wrote, Miami Vice, Love, Lies and Murder, The X-Files, Roswell, The West Wing, Cold Case, Monk, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy
The film is dedicated to J. T. Walsh, who died several months before the film’s release.
The film was directed by F. Gary Gray, known for his work on other high-stakes thrillers and action films. Gray is a talented American filmmaker and director known for his work in both film and television. He gained prominence with films like “Friday,” “The Italian Job,” and “Straight Outta Compton,” showcasing his ability to blend action and drama effectively.
Gray’s unique storytelling style and keen eye for detail have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, making him a significant figure in the entertainment industry. The screenplay was penned by James DeMonaco and Kevin Fox. DeMonaco is an accomplished American screenwriter, director, and producer,
best known for creating the popular “Purge” film series. His work often explores themes of societal breakdown and moral dilemmas, reflecting on the darker aspects of human nature. DeMonaco’s unique storytelling style combines suspense with thought-provoking commentary, making his films both entertaining and insightful. With a background in writing for television and film,
he has established himself as a significant figure in the horror and thriller genres. The movie was produced by David Hoberman, and Arnon Milchan, and distributed by Warner Bros. Arnon Milchan and David Hoberman are notable figures in the film industry,
known for their impressive production work. Milchan, a prolific producer, has been involved in a variety of successful films, including “Pretty Woman” and “Fight Club.” Meanwhile, Hoberman has made his mark with productions like “The Proposal” and “The Fighter.” Together,
they have contributed significantly to the cinematic landscape, showcasing their talent in bringing compelling stories to life. Principal photography took place primarily in Chicago, Illinois, which served as a realistic backdrop for the film’s urban drama.
Trivia
- Casting Choices: The roles of Danny Roman and Chris Sabian were initially offered to other actors. For instance, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis were considered but ultimately passed on the project.
- Improvised Scenes: Both Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey were allowed to improvise parts of their dialogue, lending authenticity to their intense exchanges.
- Real-Life Inspiration: The film was loosely inspired by real-life cases of corruption within law enforcement, though it is not based on a specific event.
- Oscar Connection: Samuel L. Jackson’s performance was widely praised, with some critics noting it as one of his most compelling roles since his Oscar-nominated turn in Pulp Fiction (1994).
- Box Office Success: Despite a summer release competing with other blockbusters, the film performed well, earning over $88 million worldwide.
Key locations included the historic Uptown Theatre, which stood in for the Internal Affairs office, and other iconic Chicago landmarks. The city’s architecture and atmosphere added to the film’s gritty and tense aesthetic. The original score was composed by Graeme Revell.
Revell described the The Negotiator score as difficult due to [F. Gary Gray] who frequently changed his mind. It took about 2-3 months to complete, but ultimately, Revell went with his original compositions, which he felt were the right fit for the film. While he didn’t consider the score experimental, he was proud of it as a solid example of the genre, believing it effectively drove the film’s rhythm.
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negotiator
- IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120768/
- Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1083481-negotiator
