The Negotiator (1998)

The Negotiator (1998)

Author: Shat on Entertainment May 29, 2026 Duration: 1:08:39

This week, Shat The Movies heads to Chicago for The Negotiator, the 1998 hostage thriller that asks a simple question: What happens when the best hostage negotiator in the city takes hostages of his own?

Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey in a battle of wits, the film turns a police corruption investigation into a tense, talk-heavy showdown filled with double-crosses, suspicious cops, and enough flashbangs to outfit a small army.

Gene and Big D revisit a late-'90s thriller that feels like a mashup of Die Hard, The Fugitive, and a Chicago tourism commercial gone horribly wrong. The guys debate whether Danny Roman's plan is brilliant or completely insane, marvel at the film's stacked supporting cast, and discuss why every Chicago movie seems to feature cops making catastrophically bad decisions.

Along the way, they break down David Morse's hard-nosed performance, the film's escalating paranoia, and the rare action movie that wins battles with conversation instead of gunfire.

Is The Negotiator an underrated thriller from the golden age of adult action movies, or a wildly implausible conspiracy held together by charisma, shouting, and Samuel L. Jackson's ability to dominate every room he's in?

Full movie info below

When a respected Chicago police hostage negotiator is framed for corruption and murder, he seizes a government office and takes hostages in a desperate attempt to uncover the real conspiracy. With the city closing in, he turns to another elite negotiator to help expose the truth before time runs out.

Subscribe Now

Help Support the Podcast


Remember those Friday nights at the video store, the thrill of finding that one perfect VHS tape to define your weekend? Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review digs into that exact feeling, hosted by the team at Shat on Entertainment. This isn't just a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it's a critical, funny, and often brutally honest re-examination of the films we adored (or just endured) during those decades. Each episode focuses on a specific movie, asking the hard questions: does this classic actually hold up, or were we just easily impressed kids? The conversation goes beyond simple reviews, exploring the cultural context of the time, the lasting impact of these stories, and why certain cinematic magic from that era feels so difficult to replicate today. You'll get deep dives into character choices, plot holes we all ignored, and the sheer practical effects that defined an age. It's for anyone who has ever rewatched a childhood favorite and wondered, "Was this always kind of... weird?" Listen to this podcast for a blend of genuine appreciation and well-reasoned skepticism, all delivered with the passion of film fans who lived through the era of rewinding tapes and hoping the rental copy wasn't too scratched. Join the discussion as we separate the timeless treasures from the nostalgic fluff, one iconic film at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Podcast Episodes
Billy Madison  (1995) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:35
This week, Shat The Movies goes back to school—literally—as we revisit Adam Sandler's breakout man-child classic, Billy Madison. Commissioned by Hot Sauce Steve, this 1995 comedy asks the eternal question: what if the he…
Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:35
This week on Shat the Movies, we roundhouse-kick our way into Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995), where Phillip Rhee takes on a small-town gang of neo-Nazis with nothing but martial arts, a leather vest, and a se…
Vampire Hunter D (1985) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:30
Just when you thought our annual Shat The Movies Halloween Spooktacular was over, we've back with one more mystical mission into the macabre. Commissioner Rob is raising "Vampire Hunter D" from the '80s crypt and bracing…
Young Frankenstein (1974) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
This week on Shat the Movies, it's alive! We're dusting off Young Frankenstein (1974), Mel Brooks' black-and-white masterpiece that parodies horror classics with heart, brains, and a healthy dose of innuendo. Gene Wilder…
Ed Wood (1994) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:47
In this special Spooktacular commission from Emmett, the guys dive deep into Tim Burton's 1994 biopic, Ed Wood. Starring Johnny Depp in one of his most beloved roles and Martin Landau in an Oscar-winning turn as Bela Lug…
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:52
This week on Shat the Movies, we're slicing into The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), the gritty, low-budget horror that redefined the genre. Gene and Big D brave the sweltering heat, meat hooks, and chainsaws to figure…
Idle Hands (1999) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
This week, Shat The Movies kicks off our annual Spooktacular with a bloody, bong-ripped bang as we revisit 1999's Idle Hands — the stoner-horror-comedy hybrid where Devon Sawa's right hand goes full demonic and Seth Gree…
The Beach (2000) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:50
This week on Shat the Movies, we're diving into The Beach (2000), where Leonardo DiCaprio ditches civilization for a secret island paradise, and things go off the rails fast. Directed by Danny Boyle and loaded with Y2K a…
Airheads (1994) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:11
This week, Shat The Movies cranks the amps, loads the water guns and storms the radio station for 1994's Airheads. Commissioned by listener John W., this forgotten rock comedy captures a moment when being a long-haired m…