Title: Spartan (2004)Starring: Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, Kristen Bell
Directed By: David Mamet
If you're familiar with writer/director David Mamet, then you know not to expect the ordinary when watching one of his films. This modern conspiracy thriller was no exception.
In it, Val Kilmer plays Agent Scott, a retrieval expert searching for the missing daughter of an important political figure (Kristen Bell). Also on the case are Ed O'Neill, William H. Macy, Derek Luke and others.
The kidnapping plot is a tangled web of deceptions and misdirections (as you would expect from a Mamet screenplay). The problem with the story is in it's lack of focus. Too many times the film changes gears and the viewer is left reeling. It becomes a scatter-brained mess, instead of complex storytelling. I know that that's just one of the many weapons in Mamet's arsenal, but here it is dreadfully misused. Had he been able to put more of a coherent story on the screen, or given the audience time to adjust, this might have been passable. Instead, it misses the mark.
Score: 5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment