Tonight on Netflix: Neither Pulp Fiction nor Unbreakable! This 90's Thriller with Samuel L. Jackson is Exceptionally Effective

If you are a fan of thrillers and crime films, we absolutely recommend this 90's gem to watch on Netflix! You won't regret it!

Released in 1998, Negotiator is one of the most intense thrillers of that magical decade, which gave us many memorable films in the genre! This time, it’s the confrontation between Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey that elevates this major work of 90's crime cinema.

An Unjustly Forgotten 90's Crime Film

Directed by F. Gary Gray, Negotiator doesn’t give us a second of respite! The viewer is plunged into the night of Chicago, where police helicopters circle relentlessly. The anti-gang unit, the FBI, and the media are on high alert.

On the 20th floor of a building, Danny Roman holds Terence Niebaum, the head of the police oversight, Commander Frost, an informant, and a secretary at gunpoint. But Danny Roman, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, is anything but a criminal.

A seasoned police officer, he is considered the best negotiator in Chicago. However, he is accused of a heinous crime. A scapegoat in a terrifying conspiracy, he is willing to do anything to clear his name, and Niebaum refuses to reveal the truth. To combat the conspiracy hatched by some of his colleagues, Roman demands an outside negotiator he does not know, a certain Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey).

With feverish dramatic intensity, Negotiator will give you chills from start to finish! Inspired by a true story, the film treats us to several twists of formidable effectiveness, intelligent direction, and memorable supporting roles, such as David Morse, J.T. Walsh, and Ron Rifkin.

Warner

A Significant Opposition

And of course, there is the climactic confrontation between the two main characters: the hostage-taker and the negotiator, portrayed by a perfect duo: Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey. At the time, both actors were at the peak of their careers: the former thanks to films like Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, or Jackie Brown, and the latter with Usual Suspects, Seven, or American Beauty.

Produced on a budget of 50 million dollars, Negotiator unfortunately was a commercial failure, grossing only 44 million dollars worldwide upon its theatrical release; however, the critical reception was quite favorable. It would later find a second life on television and in video rental stores.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Negotiator belongs to that category of crime films that prominently feature corrupt police characters, which was very trendy in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Films like Copland, Training Day, Dark Blue, and Narc, to name a few, fit into this trend.