The Spanish Prisoner . Memphis Flyer . 05-11-98

The Spanish Prisoner

DIRECTED BY: David Mamet

REVIEWED: 05-11-98

From the start of The Spanish Prisoner, David Mamet’s Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) is pegged as a patsy. Joe is a businessman, the creator of something called The Process, a formula that will allow his company to dominate the world market. The Process has led him to a retreat on a Caribbean island, where the company’s secretary Susan (Rebecca Pidgeon) peppers him with labels such as “boy scout” and “gent.” On the plane ride home, she tells him, “You never know who anybody is.”

Joe, in not-so-short-order, realizes that he should have taken that as a warning. While on the island, Joe bumps into Jimmy Dell (Steve Martin), who invites him to dinner once back in New York and flatters him with a chance to meet his wealthy sister. Joe has fallen for a con called the Spanish Prisoner, in which the mark is promised money and the hand of a beautiful woman for helping them both out of a foreign country.

This Spanish Prisoner is not as straightforward as the con game. Mamet, who also directs, has offered a crooked path that turns and twists at every opportunity. His presentation is cleverly coy. Locked doors, closed curtains, and a well-placed thumb shield illumination. As Mamet doles out a clue here, a hint there, it’s sometimes difficult to keep score. But by that point, he’s already got you by the collar.

--Susan Ellis

Full Length Reviews
The Spanish Prisoner
The Spanish Prisoner
The Spanish Prisoner

Capsule Reviews
The Spanish Prisoner
The Spanish Prisoner

Other Films by David Mamet
The Winslow Boy

Film Vault Suggested Links
Heaven's Prisoners
Insomnia
Union Station

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.