Review of Spartan (2004) by Craig H — 24 Mar 2009

Far and away the strongest David Mamet-scripted and directed film to date that (even beats "The Winslow Boy"), while it still embraces Mamet's unique dialogue patterns, it seems to be much more more accessible than most of his films.

Typically, Mamet scripts revolve around crime, graft, corruption, and con games. "Spartan" is an out-and-out pseudo-miltiary thriller and, while it clocks in at about 100 minutes, it's never dull and it's certainly not conventional in most ways.

The daughter of the President (played by Kristin Bell) disappears and Scott, a government operator (played by Val Kilmer in his best role in YEARS, prior to "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"), is tasked with finding her.

However, not all parties involved have the same goal. In fact, some don't care if the daughter ever comes home at all. So it's up to Scott, acting outside the government and pretty much on his own, to find her and save her.

The performances are solid, with Kilmer as a stand-out but ably supported by William H Macy, Ed O'Neill (both of whom are Mamet veterans), and Derek Luke. The title is taken from the anecdote that when another city-state asked Sparta for aid, Leonidas would send a single Spartan, sort of an earlier version of "one riot, one Ranger".

Well done all the way around here. Woodchuck sez, "Me likey".