SPARTAN (2004)

MORGAN'S RATING

An off-the-books United States special-ops agent, Scott, is assigned the task of rescuing the kidnapped daughter of a high government official, Burch, before the story leaks to the media. However he discovers, along the way, a larger, more sinister plot. That assignment provides the frame to which filmmaker David Mamet adds gripping suspense, bold twists, his trademark flair for dialogue, and the acting of a superb ensemble.

Val Kilmer (Scott), Derek Luke (Curtis), William H. Macy (Stoddard), Ed O'Neill (Burch), Tia Texada (Jackie Black), Johnny Messner (Grace), Jeremie Campbell (Cardre Candidate), Bob Jennings (Grace's Aide), Lionel Mark Smith (Colonel Blane), Chris La Centra (Cpl. Sattler), Renato Magno (Grossler), Mark FitzGerald (Training Facility Guard), Tony Mamet (Parker), Clark Gregg (Miller), Ron Butler (Headquarters Agent), Steven Culp (Gaines), Vincent Guastaferro (Naylor), Robert Bella (Davio), Lana Bilzerian (Undercover Agent), Aaron Stanford (Michael Blake), Ann Morgan (Secret Service Agent), Geoffrey Pierson (Pearce), Sophia Luke (Agent), Alexandra Kerry (Bartender), Andrew Davoli (Zimmer), J.J. Johnston (Night Club Manager), Natalia Nogulich (Nadya), Margot Farley (Young Whore), Rick Levy (Sedan Man), Mark Pellegrino (Convict), Kick Gurry (Jones), Kristen Bell (Laura Newton), David Paymer (TV News Anchor, uncredited).

SHE'S MISSING.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: David Mamet (Heist). WRITER: David Mamet. PRODUCERS: David Bergstein, Moshe Diamant, Art Linson, and Elie Samaha. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Kareem Elseify. CO-PRODUCERS: Jan Fantl and Joseph Merhi. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: James A. Holt, Frank Hubner, and Tracee Stanley. LINE PRODUCERS: Rick Nathanson, Jerry P. Jacobs, and Paul Tivers. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Mark Isham. DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: March 12th, 2004 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: June 15th, 2004 (USA)  BOX OFFICE OPENING: $2.0 ?million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $4.3 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: April 2003 -- July 2003 - Val Kilmer researched for the part by training with former military special operations personnel. - The bar that Val Kilmer enters to pay the bartender money is the same bar as in Shaft (2000).

QUOTES

Scott: You've had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren't you ready?

Scott: In the city there is always a reflection, in the woods always a sound. Curtis: What about the desert? Scott: You don't wanna go to the desert.

Jones: Do you wanna gossip or do you wanna shoot somebody?

CRITICAL COMMENTS

Scott: You need to set your motherfucker to "receive".

"Crisp. Cool. Minimal. Spartan." -- Mary Ann Johanson, Flick Filosopher

Curtis: I fucked up. I tried to help. Scott: That's usually when people fuck up.

"Spartan is the same old stuff, but now it's been thoroughly Mametized, like a spray-on treatment you could spritz out of a can." -- Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Curtis: I saw the sign. Scott: Then you are truly blessed.

"Like many of the works he directs, Spartan does not feel like Mamet at the top of his game." -- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Stoddard: We would have let her go, but you had to put on your thinking cap.

"Until its final stumble, this intelligence thriller...is charged with brilliance." -- Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Zimmer: I love ya Babe, but the season's over.

"...I think the cast universally does a wonderful job." -- Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper