Spartan (2004)
Average Rating: 6.5/10
Reviews Counted: 133
Fresh: 85 | Rotten: 48
A good cast and Mamet's mastery over the written language elevate an otherwise conventional thriller.
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 41
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 19
A good cast and Mamet's mastery over the written language elevate an otherwise conventional thriller.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 13,230
My Rating
Movie Info
David Mamet writes and directs the political thriller Spartan. Respected Secret Service agent Robert Scott (Val Kilmer) is assigned to the kidnapping case of Laura Newton (Kristen Bell), the missing daughter of a high-ranking political figure. Scott is teamed up with rookie Curtis (Derek Luke). Aided by the FBI and the CIA, the team discovers a human trafficking operation that may lead to Laura's kidnappers. Meanwhile, political operative Stoddard (William H. Macy) refuses to cooperate with the
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Cast
-
Val Kilmer
Robert Scott -
Derek Luke
Curtis -
William H. Macy
Stoddard -
Ed O'Neill
Burch -
Kristen Bell
Laura Newton -
Tia Texada
Jackie Black -
Said Taghmaoui
Tariq Asani -
Linda Kimbrough
Donny -
Robert Bella
Davio -
Chino Binamo
Essex House Man #2 -
Ron Butler
Headquarters Agent -
Norm Compton
Essex House Man #1 -
Steven Culp
Gaines -
Jim Frangione
Stakeout Agent -
Clark Gregg
Miller -
Stephen Greif
Business Man -
Vincent Guastaferro
Naylor -
Michael Hilow
Perimeter Guard -
Moshe Ivgi
Avi -
J.J. Johnston
Night Club Manager -
Chris Kaldor
Yitzik -
Matt Malloy
Mr. Reese -
Tony Mamet
Parker -
Debbie Martin
Debriefer -
Mark Pellegrino
Convict -
Neil Pepe
News Cameraman -
Geoffrey Pierson
Pearce -
Gail Silver
Pharmacist -
Lionel Mark Smith
Colonel Blane -
Bob A. Jennings
Grace's Aide -
Al Faris
Customs Official -
Roberto Castro Jr.
State Police Liaison Of... -
Andrew Davoli
Zimmer -
Ken Moreno
Bodyguard #1 -
Natalija Nogulich
Nadya -
Aaron Stanford
Michael Blake -
Max Daniels
Gate Keeper #2 -
Damon Caro
Balcony Shooter -
Johnny Messner
Agent Grace -
Ann Morgan
Secret Service Agent -
Kick Gurry
Jones -
J.J. Perry
Bodyguard #2 -
Sandra Lilly Lindquist
Swedish Reporter -
Alexandra Kerry
Bartender -
Jeremie Campbell
Cadre Candidate -
Chris J. Lacentra
Cpl. Settler -
Renato Magno
Grossler -
Mark Fitzgerald
Training Facility Guard -
Lana Bilzerian
Undercover Agent -
Sophia Adella Luke
Agent -
Margot Farley
Young Whore -
Dr. Rick Levy
Sedan Man -
Dan Hovanesian
Stakeout Driver -
Mordechai Finley
Cadre Operator -
Jonathan Rossetti
Medic -
Scott Barry
Cadre Team Leader -
Dick Friedman
Crew Chief -
David Aranovich
Cadre Technician -
Jody Snider
Harvard Square Reporter -
Virginia Pereira
TV Anchor Woman -
Morris Lamore
Billy -
Clara Mamet
Billy's Daughter -
Deborah Bartlett
Mrs. Newton -
Ektimal Shbib
Stewardess -
Zosia Mamet
Bedouin Woman -
Steve Martinez
Gate Keeper #1 -
Tim Fleming
Night Sun Operator -
Marc Allen Barker
Pilot -
Chelle Cerceo
Marine Flight Crew Chie... -
Jennifer Ritchkoff
Marine Captain -
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Spartan Trailer & Photos
All Critics (147) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (91) | Rotten (48) | DVD (25)
The real violence, as is always the case with Mamet, lies not in the mayhem but in the thrusting rhythms of the dialogue.
Top CriticBoth technically accomplished and moderately entertaining.
Mamet's understanding of the essentials here and his skill in supplying them are not major achievements for him, but it would be wasteful not to recognize them.
Spartan is the same old stuff, but now it's been thoroughly Mametized, like a spray-on treatment you could spritz out of a can.
Not one character makes sense, there is no shred of craft, and the script sounds like it was written by a 6-year-old who has accidentally swallowed a microchip.
Is Spartan a perfect, or even a great, movie? Probably not. But in its prickly irascibility and deeply unsettling intelligence, it makes for a very, very good one.
He'll always be writer first, but for a relentless entertainment with actual with wit and soul, Spartan may just be the best thing David Mamet has done, certainly the best he has directed.
Very violent movie ultimately just falls apart.
This political thriller is very much by its own definition, the tightly woven, creatively disciplined offspring of that old warrior spirit that is Mamet.
A tight and engrossing mystery thriller.
A clinic for how this genre should be done.
Barely memorable.
Highly recommended.
Although the story deteriorates in the last act, most of the movie is of high quality.
... should become a staple of film writing courses for years to come. There's not an ounce of fat in this script.
To call it ludicrous would be to give it far too much credit.
Audience Reviews for Spartan
Super Reviewer
Its confusing and then when you understand the story you realise that the storyline is weak and boring and very flawed.
Its a weak plot and William H Macy does not have a big enough part!
Super Reviewer
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