GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Connianatu How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Scotty Burke It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

a_chinn Terrific Brian De Palma thriller covers familiar territory for the director; political assassination, conspiracies, dirty cops, females in disguise, suspense set pieces, split screens, POV shots, long tracking shots, and so on and so forth. However, I'm a sucker for De Palma's style and although he's pretty much mining his previous work, it's still far better made than most other directors, creating terrific suspense and doing it with terrific visual flair. David Koepp, who wrote De Palma's last great film, "Carlito's Way," wrote this film based upon a story by he and De Palma. The story has shady Atlantic City police detective Nicholas Cage trying to figure out who's behind the murder of a politician at a heavyweight boxing championship that's taking place in the middle of a hurricane. Is it the head of security, Gary Sinise, the sleazy promoter, John Heard, the femme fatale, the terrific and criminally underused Carla Gugino, or maybe even the champ, Stan Shaw? Everyone has something to hide. It's a fun rogues gallery of characters in a serpentine plot, but it's really De Palma's directorial flourishes, the best of which is as a wildly long open shot. You also get Luis Guzmán, Kevin Dunn, and Mike Starr in supporting roles, so it's hard to see how this film can go far wrong. Although it's no "Blow Out," it's a must see for De Palma fans!

FlashCallahan There was a time in the mid to late nineties when all of a sudden, Nicolas Cage became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.It started around the time when The Rock was released, and more or less ended when The Family Man came out in 2000. But between that time, Cage could've made a film with him just looking out of the window, and it would have at least made a minuscule profit.How times have changed....Ricky Santoro is a corrupt Atlantic City cop with a dream. Become so well connected that he can become mayor. In the meantime though, he'll settle for keeping his comfortable lifestyle. On the night of the heavyweight boxing championship, Ricky becomes mixed up in the assassination of the Secretary of Defense, an assassination involving his best friend. Becoming the investigating officer, Ricky soon uncovers a conspiracy to kill the Secretary and a mysterious woman in white........De Palma has always been my favourite director. Not because his films are the perfect example of cinema, they are certainly not, but he has one of the most original eyes for cinematography and wonderful shots that just linger in the mind. Even films that have him apparently restrained, such as Mission Impossible, have a certain scene at a certain angle that really raise the tension of the film.Here, it's the twenty minute 'one take shot', which we all know clearly isn't, but it's still exciting and really sets you up for a fall. It's seamless, beautiful, and Nicolas Cage is just fantastic in this opening scene.And then, it all goes downhill from there, narratively speaking, but the flashbacks, points of view from other characters, and those wonderful homages to Hitchcock (the tracking through the rooms from a ceiling perspective is amazing) keep the film from becoming an almost wreck.And then there's Cages performance. If he could put a quarter of the energy in his films now that he does here, he'd still be a big hitter at the box office, and be better regarded as an actor.Granted, there are a couple of instances where he does go way over the top (his hands shaking when he's going for a cigarette after he's found out who is behind it all is hilarious), but he's so watchable, and so slimy yet likable, you can't help but get lost in his performance.Sinise is as reliable as ever, and the rest of the cast do twitchy and panicking like its second nature to them.All in all, if your not a fan of star or director, I doubt you'll like this.It's definitely an acquired taste, just like Cages wardrobe in this film.

Python Hyena Snake Eyes (1998): Dir: Brian De Palma / Cast: Nicolas Cage, Carla Gugino, Gary Sinise, Kevin Dunn, Jayne Heitmeyer: Intriguing mystery thriller addressing viewing life through the intent to commit wrong. Plot involves the assassination of the U.S. Secretary of Defense at a boxing match. Nicolas Cage plays a hotshot detective who smells conspiracy. He is assisting a Naval officer, played by Gary Sinise. Cage is flawed by his gambling past but he surges ahead in search of a mysterious blonde woman who was seated by the U.S. Secretary before the incident. Director Brian De Palma emphasizes on conspiracy. He dealt with similar themes to greater payoff in Blow Out. Starts out well but grows repetitious with a contrived ending. Cage delivers an energetic performance in his search for answers and the consequences for trusting the wrong people. Carla Gugino steals scenes as a mysterious woman brandishing a wig and contains information. Gary Sinise is disappointing in an obvious role of villain. Anybody can see this coming from a mile away. Kevin Dunn appears as an anchorman but the role is standard cardboard fare. Jayne Heitmeyer plays a suspicious redhead seated at ringside whom is sighted for questioning. A major setback for a director who has done far better. Well made disappointment with misguided themes that go down with the punch. Score: 5 ½ / 10

Wuchak Brian De Palma's "Snake Eyes" (1998) is about a fast-talking shady Atlantic City detective, Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage), who becomes involved with a murder conspiracy at a heavyweight boxing match in an Atlantic City casino while a hurricane hits. Gary Sinise plays Naval officer Commander Dunne, Santoro's best friend, and Carla Gugino plays a mysterious woman in white.This is a top-of-the-line crime thriller that cost a bundle. The opening 13-minute sequence is an amazing continuous shot, but some say it actually consists of several seamless cuts. Regardless, it's filmmaking of the highest order. The score by Ryûichi Sakamoto is unique and a highlight. Gugino is a cutie and Jayne Heitmeyer is stunning as the lady in red. Interestingly, practically the entire movie takes place in the extravagant casino/hotel.Some complain about the contrivances of the ending, but all these types of thrillers contain contrivances; besides, it's not as bad as people say if you reflect on it. Speaking of the ending, as good as the opening is I actually enjoyed the second half more, which is when the real villain manifests. What I like about the antagonist is that he or she has a good -- almost noble -- motive. But does the end justify the means? Like the excellent "Training Day," "Snake Eyes" is about a corrupt authority figure but, unlike that movie, redemption might still be possible. Unfortunately, the chickens must first come home to roost, as they say.On the downside, as great as the two women are, they coulda done more with 'em, but this is a minor cavil.The film is lean at 98 minutes and was shot in Atlantic City and Montreal.GRADE: B+