Review of The Spanish Prisoner (1997) by Russ A — 03 Dec 2013

"The Spanish Prisoner" isn't about Spain, a prisoner, or a Spanish Prisoner. The titular Spanish Prisoner is a nickname for a classic con game played in "The Spanish Prisoner". The film moves along with the ease and cleverness of the grifters that plague the film; Mamet, known for crafting films as tricky as this one, seems to have put his years of filmmaking experience into a generally low-key, downright fun venture.

The con game that is being played here is between Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) and Jimmy Dell (Steve Martin). Ross is an inventor that has just created an enigmatic "process" (the "process" itself is never truly revealed) that will make his company millions of dollars; Dell is a charming millionaire that strikes up a friendship with Ross - he warns Ross that his company is untruthful and they will reap the benefits of his invention.

Ross gets to the point in which he becomes deeply worried that Dell is right, confronts his company, and turns to Dell in hopes to protect his profit. But as it turns out, Jimmy Dell isn't Jimmy Dell, and he, in fact, is a con man and Ross is the victim. At every turn, there seems to be no one not in on the con, and seemingly nowhere he can go. Ross is forced to take matters into his own hands before the situation grows out of control.

Once the mind games start in "The Spanish Prisoner", there is no turning back. Mamet sets up the situation perfectly - at first glance, there isn't much at stake, and in the next moment, everything is. Ross, towards the beginning of the film, isn't too sympathetic: he is clearly well-educated, and there's a feeling of pretentiousness that fills the air. However, when he is conned, his fear bleeds through like an everyday guy, and suddenly, a man who, every second of his life fancies himself to be successful and intelligent, loses what he has worked for, for so long.

This element is one of the reasons the film as such a great feeling of Hitchcock tendencies. Not only does it have a successful man put in the center of the situation, but there is a key "wronged man" essential toward the middle of the film. Scenes play out not often with suspense, but tight tension, simply waiting to be snapped in half. There is a point in the film where Ross finds that he cannot trust anyone -- the audience feels the exact same way.

Mamet constantly hits us in the gut with complete wrongness, and while it feels terrible that we aren't able to outsmart the long con in the first place, it also builds upon the entertainment presented. The twists and turns are satisfying, never predictable. Scott, an actor not often used in leading roles like this one, is fit for the role, as he seems as completely aghast as we do.

In the end, "The Spanish Prisoner" feels like a reward. In this day in age, it simply is wonderful to get a film so bent on classic thriller values without having to resort to cliches. It comes to show that we can have fun without groaning first.