Snake Eyes (1998)

Second viewing at least.

At a boxing event an attempt is made against the life of the Secretary of State. An investigation is carried out by a corrupt police officer, who is a childhood friend of the security chief. A conspiracy is unraveled.

The first half-hour or so is one of the most dazzling pieces of cinema in history, and that alone would put to shame the IMDb 5.9 rating, but let us not get into sordid affairs like the masses' tastes. It would be next to impossible to keep the film on that initial level, but the fact is that it is good from start to finish. Cage is very much at home in his part, and Sinise's performance is also anthological. One of the best-directed, best-written films of the 90s, not easy to grasp fully in a single viewing perhaps, but worth the effort. Of course it is about corruption and evil and levels of corruption and evil, and smart as hell at that. Enough said, watch it.

Rating: 83 (unchanged)