Snake Eyes
Directed by Brian De Palma
- crime
- mystery
- thriller
The story
All bets are off when shady homicide cop Rick Santoro witnesses a murder during a boxing match. Determined to solve the crime, he quickly learns that his search for answers will only uncover yet more questions in an ever-widening web of conspiracy, intrigue, and danger.
What it’s like
Restless, glossy paranoia, shot through with casino gold and arena glare. The famous opening is one long, roving tracking shot through a packed Atlantic City boxing hall, with the camera gliding over crowds, cigar smoke, and bright ring lights before anything sinister surfaces. Elsewhere the look turns to hotel suites, hazy bars, and wide, cold shots of the city, with split-screen tricks and deliberate, showy camera moves that keep the eye restless. Ry Cooder's score is jangly and sly, with a sense of cheap glamour and something rotten underneath. The pace is brisk and talky, with fast cuts and crowded frames, and the mood is cynical, sweaty, and wised-up rather than cozy. A corrupt cop and a tangle of cover-ups drive the story, and the arcs are about a flawed man forced to face his own complicity. Violence is sudden and often bloody, including a shooting and a brutal fight, with some sexual content and frequent profanity. It is a fit for fans of 90s conspiracy thrillers and De Palma's stylised set pieces, and a poor fit for anyone wanting something gentle.
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