Starring: Val Kilmer, Kristen Bell, Derek Luke
Director: and written by David Mamet
Rated: M15+
SPARTAN features Robert Scott (Val Kilmer) as a classic, loner spy, or special operations agent as they are called these days.
He has few friends and lots of attitude.
When the US President’s daughter, Laura (Kristen Bell), is abducted from Harvard University, Scott is brought in to work out who took her, where she is, and if she is still alive.
Scott is given a rookie, Curtis (Derek Luke), as his partner (aren’t they always?).
Together they discover that a Middle Eastern white slavery ring took Laura. This cartel has no idea who they’ve got.
On the brink of busting the case, Stoddard (William H. Macy), a political minder in Washington DC, announces that Laura has been found dead. Case closed.
Months later Curtis summons Scott out of retirement so they can go on a private crusade to the Middle East to try and find Laura, whom they believe to be still alive.
With a presidential election looming at home, unseen forces in the US and Dubai fight our dynamic duo’s search and rescue mission.
It takes a while to sort out what’s going on in Spartan, but when we do, it’s an above average spy thriller.
It moves along quickly, has great photography, an excellent music score, and Val Kilmer skilfully pulls off the brooding, angry spy.
Spartan is also a very dark tale, with several violent scenes and violent language that will distress many viewers.
David Mamet’s screenplay enshrines a bleak view of politicians, their minders, bureaucrats and law enforcement agencies.
The world of Spartan is that of ‘the night’, with Special Agent Scott an unlikely, but effective saviour.
