It’s Die Hard in a police station!
This week, hosts Phil and Liam are locked into a high-stakes discussion on The Negotiator - the 1998 action-thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey in a battle of wits, words, and tactical mind games!
When he becomes inveigled in a corruption scandal involving suspected embezzlement of the Chicago P.D. pension’s fund, expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) decides to turn the tables and takes hostages at the Internal Affairs bureau, in an effort to find the truth and clear his name. Sensing that he has enemies in his own midst, Roman demands that the only negotiator he will speak to be Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey), a mysterious stranger from an entirely different district. But can Sabian be trusted? And how do you negotiate your way out when everyone assumes you are the real villain?
In this tightly wound pressure-cooker thriller, we break down how The Negotiator cleverly inverts the Die Hard formula - putting the good guy in control of the siege, with a besieged skyscraper, hostages, FBI interference, and a whole lot of air shaft action! We explore the film’s copious Die Hard DNA, from over-the-radio showdowns and ill-fated SWAT assaults to computer hacking, power shutdowns, and even a debate about old Western movies between the two adversaries! We also highlight the killer supporting cast, the film’s “Glengarry with Guns” energy, and why F. Gary Gray deserves more love! Plus, we dig into the importance of the Chicago setting and discuss how the film channels The Fugitive with its “wrongly accused” narrative - shoutout to Andrew Davis! Chicago forever! As usual we hand out our Die Hard Oscars to worthy candidates and wrap things up with some ‘Double Jeopardy’ brain teasers!
THE NEGOTIATOR trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnSk9xrOf2M
At the time of release, THE NEGOTIATOR is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. In the US it is streaming on Plex and is available to rent or buy on YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango and all the usual platforms.
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