Dir.
David Mamet, 2004, USA, 106 mins
Cast:
Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, Laura Newton, William H Macy, Ed O'Neill
This action thriller arrives with little fanfare but the mark of quality afforded by the tag "written and directed by David Mamet". Having made his name as one of America 's most celebrated playwrights, Mamet has in recent years been putting out a number of varied, and intelligent entertainments. His ninth film as writer/director, Spartan, is a lean, mean, welcome addition to the collection. Val Kilmer plays Robert Scott who is an emotionally detached, and super-efficient military killer. Scott is the kind of specialist who trains elite soldiers in the dark arts, and turns up in crisis situations - immediately revered by his colleagues, and is never referred to by his full name. He's like a more intense version of Jack Bauer, from 24, with better dialogue. After watching two recruits beat the hell out of each other (the one who is still standing being allowed to join his elite), Scott walks straight into the crisis at the centre of the story. The President's daughter is missing, with a re-election campaign as background, and the secret service have about 48 hours (would be a holiday for Jack Bauer) until the press catches on. Assisted by Curtis (Luke), the eager recruit who survived the trial by beating, Scott must track the girl down, and do whatever his superiors ask, the ends justifying the means. Recognisably Spartan inhabits the same universe as the director's earlier film, Wag The Dog. This is the cynical world of shadowy political moves, where government soldiers can be involved in all sorts of murder, corruption and perversion of justice, if someone on high gives the order. Kilmer's 'man of Spartan' is faced with the dilemma of a man who has always followed orders, even if that means murder, coming up against disturbing ambiguities. As ever with Mamet's characters, you get the usual outbursts of brutal language, with his trademark ear for malespeak : "You better set your motherf*cker to receive!" But Spartan is the least dialogue driven of his films so far. It's all about the action, and what Scott does next. And it is violent too. Like the main character, the film boils the action down to a minimum number of effective scenes, with bone-crunching, sharp twists carrying the audience along with the minimum of fuss and bombast. Val Kilmer, who even for his detractors has been putting in good work recently, does a nice job with this character, gradually letting his iron-clad efficiency mix with some conscience. Mamet's supporting players are reliable as ever, but with such a plot driven movie, you couldn't say Ed O'Neill, Derek Luke or William H Macy's characters were particularly memorable. Laura Newton, as the first daughter, gives us an interesting twist on the 'girl in peril' though. Relaying any of the plot beyond the first act would destroy the enjoyment. Suffice it to say, if you follow the small details, the twists and turns make for an enjoyable ride. Spartan is a greyhound of a movie: taut, sinewy and quick moving. For Mamet fans or neophytes this is one of the best alternatives to robots and superheroes this summer. Johnny Messias |
