The Negoitator (1998)

This thriller seems like its on TV a lot so I've seen bits and pieces of it over the years, but I never watched more then a minute or two  because I'd heard it was real good and wanted to see it from the beginning,  so cue DVR. The Negotiator stars Samuel L Jackson as a talented Chicago PD hostage negotiator who is wrongly accused of the murder of his partner (Paul Guilfoyle) and embezzlement of police funds. So wanting to prove his innocence Jackson decides to put his skills to work and takes the Internal Affairs agent whose been coming after him (J. T. Walsh) and an number of other people (including Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Paul Giamatti) hostage in a downtown high-rise. It's roughly an hour into the film before a fellow and equally skilled hostage negotiator (played by Kevin Spacey) is brought in to deal with Jackson. Now I'm kind of partial to hostage pictures, they are innately dramatic, and when done right are some of the most enjoyable kinds of movies to watch. Well The Negotiator is done right, well written, well paced, and boasting a enviable cast with David Morse, Ron Rifkin and John Spencer among the supporting players. A film I can just tell will be very re-watchable. ***1/2