Spartan DVD Review:

Investigating the abduction of the daughter of a high ranking US official, military specialist Scott (Kilmer) uncovers a conspiracy that reaches to the highest echelons of power. Now he faces a race against time to save the girl and put a stop to the nefarious political undertakings of the kidnapping before the American public accept the way they have spun the story.

Master screenwriter David Mamet turns his highly skilled hand to political espionage but does he have what is takes to create a tense thriller? Of course he does.

Arguably one of the best dialogue writers working in film today, David Mamet’s movies always have great characters and an intriguing plot that ties all this together. ‘Spartan’ is no different. Here we have a kidnap situation with a difference. This is the abduction of a high-ranking US official’s daughter but the kidnappers don’t actually know whom they have taken. This is the twist and this is what draws you into the story.

Mamet knows how to weave a story and ‘Spartan’ is no exception. Drawing you in with the original kidnap premise, the story unfolds to be much more. The political ramifications of the kidnapping are the intriguing part of this tale. There is much more to the daughter’s abduction than just money but it ripples through parties that you would never think could be involved. This is classic Mamet, as he weaves a web of intrigue that will have you captivated.

Mamet’s script is vividly brought to life by some great performances. After a few years in the wilderness and a reputation of been difficult to work with, Val Kilmer is returning to his true potential. As military specialist Scott, he creates a character that is driven by the truth and a sense of what is right. He is given a mission to find the girl and he will complete that, even if his discoveries mean that he has to go against the chain of command. Kilmer delivers Mamet’s dialogue superbly, highlighting again that given the right script and director, he is an extremely good actor. Derek Luke, as rookie specialist Curtis is also good. Pulled into the intrigue, he is forced to question his loyalty to his country and his dedication to the mission. There are also notable performances from the ever-brilliant William H. Macy and a powerful performance from Kristen Bell, even though it is a small but very significant part.

‘Spartan’ is an intriguing thriller that draws you in from the start. With excellent performances and an outstanding script, this is another example of how good David Mamet actually is and why most of his films are classed as compulsive watching.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.40:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is very good. The picture quality is sharp throughout, even during the excessive night scenes that run throughout the movie. The sound quality is also good, emphasising David Mamet’s brilliant dialogue and the atmospheric score.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by Val Kilmer
The star of ‘Spartan’ provides an interesting and chatty commentary track for the movie. He describes how he became involved with the picture and what it was like working with David Mamet. He reveals what the writer/director is like, his visual and writing styles and how he communicates with actors and his crew. Kilmer then talks about how he prepared for the character, his research and preparation and how playing the part affected him. He also discusses the look and feel of the picture, highlighting Mamet’s approach to the espionage subject matter and the technical aspects of the movie. This is a good commentary from an actor who truly adores the film. It also reveals a lighter side to Val Kilmer and shows that he knows a lot about the business.

Theatrical Trailer (1.54 mins)
Watch the full trailer that promoted the movie in cinemas.

OVERALL

While the commentary track from Val Kilmer is good, the complete lack of any other extras is tantamount to a criminal offence. Some deleted scenes, a featurette or an interview with David Mamet would have been welcomed by fans of the film and the writer/director. DVD releases need to be much more than this.

DVD Rating = * *

Jamie Kelwick

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