When Robert Scott (Val Kilmer) is recruited to find Laura, the daughter of a government official, he is paired with novice Curtis (Derek Luke). Scott and Derek stumble upon a white slavery ring, which may have some connection to Laura's disappearance. Director: David Mamet; stars Val Kilmer, William H. Macy.
Acclaimed playwright David Mamet continues his movie-directing career with the noirish political thriller SPARTAN. Mamet clearly relishes a challenge, and by casting former Hollywood bad boy Val Kilmer in the lead role, this could be his biggest risk yet. Fortunately it's one that pays off, as Kilmer excels throughout in his role as Robert Scott, a high ranking special operations agent. Scott's expertise is called upon when the daughter of the U.S. President, Laura Newton (Kristen Bell), is kidnapped while studying at Harvard. Teaming up with rookie officer Curtis (Derek Luke), and a variety of Secret Service agents, Scott enters into a dangerous race against time to find Laura before the media gets its claws into the story. Twists and turns in the storyline are a Mamet trademark, and SPARTAN is no exception, with Kilmer and co. meeting a variety of bizarre dead ends on their desperate search for the abducted girl. A lead in the case suggests that Newton has been sold to a white slavery ring in Dubai, and a mission is mounted to find her, with Scott and Curtis at the helm. But when the mission is aborted at the last minute, Scott unwittingly stumbles into a possible Government cover up, which on further investigation leads him up to his neck in scandal, conspiracy, and a threat to his own life. Mamet clearly enjoys keeping viewers guessing, and as he continues to cloud the plot in smoke and mirrors, he ensures that nothing can be taken for granted right up until the final minute of the film.
Theatrical Release Date: March 12, 2004
Spartan Reviews:
"Oozing the paranoid atmosphere of the great '60s/'70s political thrillers by directors such as John Frankenheimer, it's still Mamet all the way down to the irony-drenched core."
-- Michael Tunison, Box Office
"Mamet handles his baroque storyline with tremendous conviction and dexterity....This is Mamet's best film, period."
-- Gavin Smith, Film Comment
"[It] showcases Mamet the film-maker at his hardboiled best and emerges as that cinematic rarity...[an] action thriller with style and brains."
-- Andrew Sumner, Uncut
"[A] vigorous and engrossing genre exercise that manages the difficult trick of being both logically meticulous and genuinely surprising."-- A. O. Scott, New York Times
"Mamet has a sharp, unconventional mind..."-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"SPARTAN is just cryptic enough to keep you guessing..."
-- Owen Glieberman, Entertainment Weekly
Customer Spartan Reviews Customer Spartan DVD Reviews
Average Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)
Extraordinary... Story and performances by the cast. Maybe Val Kilmer's finest performances, although in Salton Sea he was the ultimate anti hero or was he?
This is a winner, worthy of multiple viewings. Submitted by Bear (Charlotte, NC, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A Very Real Thriller Spartan sizzles with twists and turns, action and surprises. Val Kilmer is amazing continuing to show us he is one of the most underated actors of our generation. Watch and enjoy this believable thriller. Submitted by matthew (pittsburg NH USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Val Kilmer's most interesting performance Short and dull is the best way to describe this movie,but you've got to hand it to Val Kilmer for trying to breathe some life back into this dead crime drama. Submitted by Blake (Brandon,MS) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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Spartan DVD Features
Region 1 Keep Case Widescreen - 2.39 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Additional Release Material: Audio Commentary: Val Kilmer - Star
Extraordinary...
Val Kilmer's most interesting performance
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