Snake Eyes MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

While attending a boxing match, Rick Santoro (Nicholas Cage), an Atlantic City police detective, is one of the thousands who witness the assassination of the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary's security team is led by Santoro's close friend, Major Kevin Dunne (Gary Sinise). Coming to Kevin's aid, Santoro agrees to help investigate the murder to free his friend from any blame of negligence. The investigation leads detective Santoro to a conspiracy that points to almost half a dozen people, including one of the boxers. It's not long before the investigation forces him to chose between justice and friendship. This "who dunit" film is creative and inventive. It keeps the audience guessing while reliving the assassination through the eyes of several of the witnesses. With Cage's vibrancy it is sure to be a box office hit.

Although Santoro shows an admirable loyalty to his friend, Major Dunne, he just can't seem to keep this admirable quality concerning his marriage. Through several conversations with different characters it soon becomes apparent that Santoro is cheating on his wife but his behavior is not condoned or glamorized. Like most detective movies, Snake Eyes contains scattered acts of violence including shootings and fistfights. When the Secretary is shot, a near by woman is covered with blood. She immediately runs to the restroom where she removes her blouse and tries to clean it. While wearing only a skirt and bra the girl finally finds a jacket and casually joins the thousands of boxing fans that are being held for questioning. The film paints a disturbing image of corrupt city officials who are accustomed to accepting bribes. The violence and near nudity in the film doesn't seem exploitive, but the 19 regular profanities, 20 f &S words and many crudities sadly tarnish this otherwise inventive and entertaining film.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
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