Gang Related (1997)

"Gang Related" (1997) is a crime drama written and directed by Jim Kouf and stars James Belushi and Tupac Shakur in his last film before his murder. Additional cast members include James Earl Jones, Lela Rochon, and Dennis Quaid. This new noir film has a classic double-disc soundtrack released by Death Row Records. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the U.S. and went twice platinum. 

Director: Jim Kouf

Writer: Jim Kouf

Starring Jim Belushi, Tupac Shakur, Lela Rochon, Dennis Quaid, James Earl Jones, David Paymer, Wendy Crewson, Gary Cole, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Brad Greenquis, James Handy, Kool Moe Dee, Victor Love, Robert LaSardo, Perry Anzilotti, Gregory Scott, Clyde David Dunner, Tom Lister Jr.

Storyline

Corrupt cops Divinci and Rodriguez have been murdering drug dealers and selling their narcotics, but when they accidentally kill an undercover DEA agent, the dead man's partner Simms comes calling. In search of a scapegoat, Divinci and Rodriguez use a homeless alcoholic they call Joe Doe. The DEA agent grows suspicious of the crooked duo as keeping up the scheme becomes increasingly dangerous and complex.

The Negotiator (1998)

Starring:

• Samuel L. Jackson
• Kevin Spacey
• David Morse

IMDB.com
In the midst of an elaborate conspiracy, an expert negotiator is driven to the edge when he's framed for the murder of his partner, as well as embezzling money from his department's pension fund. His only chance to prove his innocence is to take hostages himself, acquire the services of another expert negotiator, and find out who's running the conspiracy before it's too late.

In terms of plot and story development, The Negotiator offers little that is new. It's a very conventional film. However, it gets a much needed injection from its cast, especially the two leads Jackson and Spacey, whose verbal exchanges are exciting and dynamic.

The far-fetched yarn introduces us to Chicago hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson). Roman's partner Nate (Paul Guilfoyle) is brutally murdered just as he is about to expose a bunch of cops who have been stealing from the Disability Fund. All the clues at the scene of Nate's murder point to Roman being the guilty one. Danny is arrested for the killing, but he remains determined to prove his innocence. He violently besieges the Internal Affairs division of the Chicago P.D, taking several hostages at gunpoint, and proceeds to demand that his name be cleared. Hostage negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives on the scene to talk Roman into surrendering his hostages.

The ease with which Jackson's character is framed for a crime he didn't commit is hard to believe, and his subsequent decision to take hostages in order to clear himself stretches credibility to the limit. The solution to the mystery - with the revelation of the real killer coming right at the end - isn't especially believable either. However, improbabilities aside, The Negotiator is an entertaining work. As mentioned, Jackson and Spacey's confrontations are quite dynamic and help to make the film compulsively watchable. Siege thrillers by their very definition are exciting, and this one is no exception. Granted, The Negotiator is totally conventional fare, but within its limitations it remains a well-crafted, absorbing and agreeable offering.