"Always do business as if the person you're doing business with is trying to screw you, because he probably is. And if he's not, you can be pleasantly surprised."
The Spanish Prisoner is a hidden gem of the 90's that I can't recommend enough. It's hard to believe that the budget was so low on this film and they still had quite a good cast....Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, Felicity Huffman, Ed O'Neill, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, to name a few. As most of you know, I am not the biggest fan of Steve Martin, but he did some job in his role in this movie.
Joe Ross....inventor of "the process", a formula which will make him and the company he works for millions of dollars. Very paranoid individual and will guard his work with his life.
Jimmy Dell....a sly, smart, sophisticated, and very rich business man. Joe becomes friends very quickly with Jimmy after a chance encounter.
Susan Ricci....Ross' annoying, yet likeable secretary who will do anything to help Joe. Has an obvious liking for her boss.
The basic plot: Joe Ross becomes quite paranoid that his company is trying to screw him out of his ample bonus for developing his "process". He quickly runs to his newly acquired friend, Jimmy, for some legal help. Things quickly get way out of control for everybody and the FBI is called in for help. Joe's paranoia gets worse and worse and now he can trust nobody....everybody is out to get him, steal his work, and leave him with nothing. He has no one else to turn to for help other than his lovely secretary. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that this flick has more twists and turns than your favorite rollercoaster. Check it out....won't disappoint!
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Sterling summary there 80sRocked, a blast from the past if ever there was one.
I enjoyed this movie (though it was similar to 'House Of Games') but couldn't quite accept Steve Martin as a dramatic actor either. Campbell Scott is one of the most underrated talents out there ('Singles' being his finest hour). Ed Harris would’ve been better as Jimmy Dell, Mamet's a great writer and 'Glengarry /Glenross' is one of my all time favourite movies, but his directing career hasn't been as distinguished as his literary one IMO.
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
Loved House of Games too Kash, but different than this one I think. Maybe you think they were similar because Ricky Jay portrays the same character in most of his work? He is one of my favorite magicians as well. I thought Martin did a decent job in this one, although I usually can't stand him in most everything else he does. Ed Harris would have been great as Dell I agree. Haven't seen Glengarry/Glen Ross is quite some time....excellent movie. 90's movies don't get enough recognition in my opinion. Most of my favorites are from this decade.....sorry folks.
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Probably, I've heard Ricky Jay is one of the best magicians out there. 90s movies are still in the time tunnel, soon they'll be a time when they're as revered as films from the 70s & 80s IMO, remember on the Criterion of 'Dazed & Confused' when they had a 10 year reunion and 100s of people attented?
My favourite films are from all eras now, if it were between the 80s & 90s: it'd probably be a tie.
