The Spanish Prisoner

Written and Directed by: David Mamet

For years I had heard the name David Mamet mentioned in hushed and reverent tones. Nothing I overheard gave me any insight into the man or his work, beyond general acclaim. Then, at some point, I saw a trailer for "The Spanish Prisoner," made the Mamet connection, and had been on the hunt for this film ever since.

Joe Ross (Scott), an up-and-coming engineer, runs across wealthy financier Jimmy Dell (Martin), who earns his trust and promises to help him out of an unpleasant work situation and bring him into ranks of the wealthy elite. Ross quickly realizes that Dell is actually a con-man and turns to the FBI for help. But trying to con a con-man brings Ross deeper into Dell's web of deception.

The plot of this film resembles something from Hitchcock at his best. There are layers under layers and twists within twists, and major reveals which only lead to more complexities. With so many unpredictable turns, "The Spanish Prisoner" manages to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller without requiring much action. Some cliché twists are used, but not in any predictable way or for any conventional purpose.

The noir-style dialogue (often delivered weakly) does not seem fit well with the modern setting, though it does add a bit of texture to the story. The acting is not terribly strong, although the weakness plays a major role in the overall effect of the film: when everyone is acting, it becomes much harder to tell when a character is telling the truth and when they are being deceptive (or even when they are intentionally trying to reveal a deception to hide some other truth).

I absolutely enjoyed this film. Despite its few but noticeable weaknesses, "The Spanish Prisoner" stands out as quite unique. It hearkens back to a time when intrigue and plot were king in films, and the actors were key players in delivering the story.