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Snake Eyes
1998 98 min United States of America R 18+
★6.0
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Director: Brian De Palma
Trailers
Description
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.
Budget:
$73M
US Gross:
$55.59M
Worldwide:
$103.9M
Starring
Nicolas Cage
Actor
Gary Sinise
Actor
John Heard
Actor
Awards
1 win & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
Snake Eyes is a visually ambitious thriller that divides audiences with its marriage of high-concept technical mastery and a polarizing narrative. While many praise Brian De Palma’s immersive camera work and Nicolas Cage’s energetic performance, others find the plot predictable and the film's overall structure uneven.
| Cinematography | The 12-minute opening tracking shot is a technical triumph that masterfully establishes the film's atmosphere and location. | |
| Score | Ryuichi Sakamoto’s score is a formidable and tense auditory highlight that effectively enhances the film's thriller elements. | |
| Acting | Nicolas Cage delivers an exceptionally expressive and charismatic performance that serves as the film’s central anchor, though some find his portrayal loud or unconvincing. | |
| Screenplay | The conspiracy-driven screenplay is viewed by some as a tightly plotted, intelligent satire, while others criticize it for being predictable and revealing its villain too early. | |
| Direction | The film’s direction balances brilliant stylistic flourishes with an uneven narrative flow that some argue marks a decline in De Palma’s career consistency. |