Today’s quick review: Snake Eyes. An Atlantic City boxing match erupts into chaos when the Secretary of Defense is shot while in the audience. Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage), a corrupt detective, takes command of the investigation with the help of Kevin Dunne (Gary Sinise), Rick’s friend and the head of the Secretary’s security detail. But as Rick unravels the conspiracy behind the assassination attempt, he’s faced with a choice between greed and honor.
Snake Eyes is a crime thriller from director Brian de Palma. Nicolas Cage stars as Rick Santoro, an Atlantic City cop riding high on a life of shallow friendships, gambling, adultery, and petty graft. Luck puts him at the scene of a crime that could make his career, if only he can catch the killers. But his own investigation takes him farther than he wanted to go, forcing him to choose between personal gain and his long-forgotten scruples.
Snake Eyes’ best assets are its winding mystery and its well-drawn lead. Rick Santoro is a vivid character and a perfect fit for Cage. His arc takes him from pure self-interest to the faint stirrings of conscience, all thanks to an investigation he thought would be simple. The mystery has plenty of moving parts for the film to work with. The crux of the mystery is a tightly coordinated sequence of events leading up to the shot being taken.
However, Snake Eyes has a few rough edges that keep it from making good on its promise. The movie starts stronger than it finishes. The plot can only carry Santoro and his investigation so far before it throws in the towel. The shaky ending dulls the impact of what could have been a satisfying character arc, and it fails to live up to the intriguing twists of earlier on. The result is a series of good pieces that don’t quite form a full puzzle.
Give Snake Eyes a shot when you’re in the mood for a crime thriller with a dash of mystery. Cage’s performance and the early stages of the plot are enough to make Snake Eyes an interesting watch, if not a fully satisfying one. Your enjoyment of the movie will depend heavily on how interesting you find Cage’s character, so those who dislike corrupt protagonists or Cage’s more eccentric performances should look elsewhere.
For another crime movie starring Nicolas Cage as a dirty cop, try Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. For a more action-packed thriller starring Cage, try The Rock. For an action thriller featuring a more elaborate conspiracy to assassinate a public figure, try Shooter or Vantage Point. For one with a similar underlying story, try Eraser. For a dark comedy with a similarly scummy main character, try Swimming with Sharks.
6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a strong mystery held back by a mediocre ending.