• Genre: Thriller
• MPAA Rating: R
• AMG Rating:
• Regional Coding:
  Unspecified

F. Gary Gray directed this suspenseful action thriller based on a real case experienced by police in St. Louis. The James DeMonaco/Kevin Fox screenplay follows an accused man who is forced to commit crimes in order to prove himself innocent of murder. After Chicago police hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) succeeds in rescuing a little girl menaced by her gun-wielding dad, he's praised by both the police department and the media, and he returns to his usual cop routines with his longtime partner, promising his new wife Karen (Regina Taylor) he'll make it home for dinner every night. Then his partner, who had evidence of embezzlement within the police department, is killed. Since Danny arrives at the crime scene only seconds later, he's the main suspect, and Chief Al Travis (John Spencer) asks him to turn in his gun and badge. Danny invades the Chicago Internal Affairs Division headquarters and tries to get the truth from Inspector Terence Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) while holding two assistants and Commander Frost (Ron Rifkin) as hostages. He then calls for an outsider from another precinct, hostage negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey). When Sabian arrives, the two compete for control, while Danny attempts to prove to him that he's been falsely accused. The film is dedicated to J.T. Walsh, who died not long after the production wrapped. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Bonus Features

• The 11th Hour: Stories from Real Negotiators featurette
• On Location making-of featurette
• Theatrical trailer

Actors

Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, J.T. Walsh, Regina Taylor, Siobhan Fallon, Paul Giamatti

Director

F. Gary Gray

Producer

Arnon Milchan, David Hoberman

Violence, Profanity

• Sound : DTHD/DD5.1
• Language : Eng/Fre/Spa/Italian
• Subtitles : Fre/Spa/FI/Italian

• Screen : WSE
• Dar : 2.40:1

Review

This gripping police corruption thriller manages to acquit itself fairly well despite showing some very conspicuous seams. As usual, Samuel L. Jackson plays the slick "bad m.f." character to near-perfection and Kevin Spacey, trying his hand at action, hammers down his fairly straight role. All the vital elements of suspense drama are present; unfortunately, a few sleight-of-hand script shortcuts give the movie an amateurish feel. F. Gary Gray's bang-up direction should please the genre's fans, most of whom flocked to his previous action endeavor, Set It Off. Gray, who started his career making music videos, tends toward the spectacular, giving the film a grandiose, MTV-ish feel. In the end, the all-star appearances of Spacey and Jackson give the film its identity: the two Hollywood powerhouses make more out of the typically flat action storyline. ~ Mike DiBella, All Movie Guide

• Release Date : November 10, 2009
• Length : 139 Minutes
• Dvdsides : 1
• Dvddiscs : 1
• Upc : 883929073870