SPARTAN (2004)  ***

Reviewed 3/15/03

Around the time of the Monica Lewinsky affair and the 2000 presidential election, American cynicism about politicians could hardly be higher, and many critics worried about Americans caring enough to even vote. After 9/11 however, Americans came together around George W. Bush for a time. That time has past as WMD have not been found in Iraq and the Bush administration’s foreign and domestic policies have deeply divided the electorate. Based on SPARTAN, I’d guess David Mamet wants the old cynicism back and believes that the loss of our skepticism about what our government is willing to do to stay in power is profoundly unhealthy. With no way to talk about the movie without revealing major spoilers, I’ll just say it is a powerful, competent thriller with only a few contrivances that would appear in most Hitchcock movies too. And it is a scathing attack at the lack of outrage in the current political environment. SPARTAN’s biggest problem is Val Kilmer who is just plain dull. It’s smaller problems revolve around the ridiculous expendability of his supporting cast even if it does play into the title.