Plot
The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high-ranking US government official.

Release Year: 2004

Rating: 6.7/10 (19,428 voted)

Critic's Score: 60/100

Director: David Mamet

Stars: Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, William H. Macy

Storyline
Maverick Ranger Scott, known for ruthless, unorthodox methods but good results, is called in to help the secret service after Washington big whig's brat daughter is abducted while studying at Harvard. Scott quickly realizes the protection detail's prime suspect, her boyfriend Michael Blake, is innocent and dumped her for being a drug-addicted slut. Next he traces her to a bordello, only to realize the captors didn't realize who she is but simply recruited her for the Middle Eastern white slavery market, and are likely to dispose of her rather then confront her father. But instead of the support expected in such high-profile case, Scott gets orders to work in secret before the press catches on, and even finds his quest sabotaged.

Cast:
Tia Texada - Jackie Black
Derek Luke - Curtis
Val Kilmer - Scott
Jeremie Campbell - Cadre Candidate
Bob Jennings - Grace's Aide
Lionel Mark Smith - Colonel Blane
Johnny Messner - Grace
Chris LaCentra - Cpl. Sattler (as Chris J. Lacentra)
Renato Magno - Grossler
Mark FitzGerald - Training Facility Guard
Tony Mamet - Parker
Clark Gregg - Miller
Ron Butler - Headquarters Agent
Steven Culp - Gaines (as Stephen Culp)
Vincent Guastaferro - Naylor

Taglines: She's missing.

Official Website: Tri Pictures [Spain] | Warner Bros [United States] |

Release Date: 12 March 2004

Filming Locations: Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $19,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $2,011,435 (USA) (14 March 2004) (832 Screens)

Gross: $4,434,432 (USA) (22 April 2004)

Runtime: USA: 106 min  | UK: 102 min (DVD)

Trivia:
Val Kilmer researched for the part by training with former military special operations personnel.

Goofs:
Continuity: During the beach house scene, Scott shoots "Essex House Man #1" twice, and the slide on his gun locks back. In the next shot, the slide is locked forward.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Scott: You had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren't you ready?

Excellent and intelligent. Not for Bruckheimer fans.

Rating: 8/10

If you go by the plot, or by the casting (Val Kilmer's done his share of stupid actioners), you might well go into this expecting guns, explosions, and improbably ninja-esquire super-agents who parachute around and kill things with their teeth.

But this is Mamet, so what you get instead is a sort of weird emotional flatland for almost two hours of film, with Kilmer doing an excellent (Val KILMER? Whoa!) job of portraying what top-level soldier/drones are like: emotionally neutral, physically economical, and not always all that bright.

If you're looking for somebody hoisting a bazooka and wisecracking before he blows up the compound and saves the girl in the bikini while smashing the drug smuggling ring, this ain't your film, friend. It's very well written and extremely well acted, but also quiet, murky, and deliberately understated.

Don't expect whiz-bang excitement or crackerjack dialogue. If you can shelve that and put yourself in the frame of mind of a Kurosawa samurai movie, where contemplation and futility take equal time with action and excitement, you'll find this movie a lot more rewarding.

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