Spartan Torrent

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Spartan Torrent
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The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking US government official.
In the US-government's special ops, Scott is a shooter, not a planner, doing the job without regard to quaint or obsolete convention. When a Harvard undergrad goes missing (the daughter of a US leader), it's Scott who applies the pressure, first to her boyfriend, then to a madam whose cathouse is the initial stop en route to a white slavery auction in Dubai. The abductors may not know the girl's identity, but once they figure it out, she's doomed. Deadly double crosses force Scott to become a planner. Through it all, earnest TV newscasters read the drivel they're handed.
It's interesting that Mamet, an established genius at portraying the "human condition" in his plays, has established, in his movies, a genius for the intricately plotted "thriller." Spartan is a "police procedural" that fits in the latter category (I think I understood the plot after several viewings). It's also a moving Mametic tribute to heroes. Imaginative riffs on action situations (interrogations, storming the hideout, e.g.). Broader implication that the President is increasingly dependent on and maybe even beholden to his staff; that the real power resides in people we don't even know. WWIII as portrayed here is between those willing to exploit or even sacrifice others to stay in power and those willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the powerless. Regardless of the plausibility of plots like these, the Stone-like message is that some government employees, empowered to go outside the law to protect the country, could blithely extend that mandate to keeping the opposing party out of power.
Well i was starting to wonder whether Val would get his career back on track after seeing him in mishaps like Mindhunters (Cheesey but fun) and his brief role in The Missing (Boring boring boring). I haven&#39;t seen Wonderland yet so i can&#39;t judge him on that one just now. <br/><br/>This is the guy that starred in films such as Willow, Heat and Tombstone (His best role to date), he should be starring in bigger films these days and making a better reputation for himself you would think. But up until now this hasn&#39;t happened. So thank god for Spartan....<br/><br/>The trailer looked quite average so i wasn&#39;t expecting much, but it starred Kilmer and Macy so i was hoping to be pleasantly surprised somehow. Which i was.<br/><br/>The reason why this film hit the right note for me was its pace. It flowed really well and i thank Mamet the director for that. The first thirty minutes to forty five are fantastic and didn&#39;t let go of the audiences attention at all. It did dip through the middle but again picked up to my delight after that patchy spell. <br/><br/>I&#39;ve already commented on Kilmer enough and he does a great job in his role of Agent Scott. He is backed up by rookie partner Curtis played by Derek Luke. This is the first time i have seen this guy and he did a great job with the screen time that he had. <br/><br/>My one disappointment is William H Macy&#39;s character Stoddard. There was no development whatsoever to his character and he was restricted to very tight screen time. The best actor in this film restricted to a few lines is very harsh. I&#39;m sure a few people will agree with me there. <br/><br/>By the way i loved the fact that they didn&#39;t relate to the girl as the &#39;presidents daughter&#39; once throughout this film. Simple but effective<br/><br/>A gem of a film.
Ultimately unsatisfying.
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