Brian De Palma directed this slow-moving thriller which was widely hated by both movie goers and critics alike on its release. In retrospect, however, it's a fun film, with a complex plot to keep the viewer thinking and guessing as the film progresses. While some moments do drag, I found myself enjoying the film totally throughout as I was caught up in the story so well. The acting is very good here, with Nicolas Cage perfectly cast as a bullish cop who initially is loud and unlikeable, but who becomes more sombre and withdrawn as time goes on, until he's just a beaten wreck at the end of the film. Gary Sinise puts in another excellently villainous performance (even if his villainous identity was revealed in the film's trailer) and I loved the scene at the end of the film where he was trapped in the headlights of the car before committing suicide, the look of anguish on his face was superb. The rest of the cast is all good, especially the female lead who is both tough and yet vulnerable. However it's really Cage who carries the film as his character is given the most depth. I have always admired Cage as an actor as he is so unlikeable, yet still a good actor anyway.
There are lots of taut sequences in this film and also some excellent scenes, like the beginning tracking shot which goes on forever, or the suspenseful moment when both Cage and Sinise are hunting for the key witness to the crime down long hotel corridors. The action is surprisingly sparse and therefore the film does get bogged down a bit by heavy, long-winded explanations, although there are some brutal fight scenes, not just in the arena either. I also liked the use of flashbacks and points of view which show what happened before the assassination, these give a greater depth to the story and there's no doubt that De Palma has a real cinematic flair. Originally, I hear that the film was supposed to have a tidal wave (created by Industrial Light and Magic) flood the building but that this was cut out. I can only think how much better the film would have benefited with this climax. As it stands, it is a bit of an anti-climax at the end, but this didn't spoil the film for me as I was having a great time puzzling over things anyway. Good but flawed.
There are lots of taut sequences in this film and also some excellent scenes, like the beginning tracking shot which goes on forever, or the suspenseful moment when both Cage and Sinise are hunting for the key witness to the crime down long hotel corridors. The action is surprisingly sparse and therefore the film does get bogged down a bit by heavy, long-winded explanations, although there are some brutal fight scenes, not just in the arena either. I also liked the use of flashbacks and points of view which show what happened before the assassination, these give a greater depth to the story and there's no doubt that De Palma has a real cinematic flair. Originally, I hear that the film was supposed to have a tidal wave (created by Industrial Light and Magic) flood the building but that this was cut out. I can only think how much better the film would have benefited with this climax. As it stands, it is a bit of an anti-climax at the end, but this didn't spoil the film for me as I was having a great time puzzling over things anyway. Good but flawed.