MovieChat Forums > Spartan (2004) Discussion > Really Dumb Move, for A Movie that Is su...

Really Dumb Move, for A Movie that Is supposed to be realistic

posted 12 years ago by Jakealope
7 replies | jump to latest

I don't expect movies like this to reflect accurate tactical realism documentary style. But Mamet made a big deal about being all macho and real by getting help from real experts in the field.

But this scene was just total stupidity for even Hardy Boys. When Scott was getting away from that faked escape setup at the diner with that Arab pimp as a "partner", he is soon followed by his sidekick Curtis who buttonholes him in the middle of the pharmacy. That was such a blatant and stupid move. Why didn't they have some sort of pre-arranged way to pass him a message covertly, like call him on a cell phone? Talking in the cash register line about the mission seemed so utterly incompetent. Then to top it off, why would Scott further risk blowing his cover and risking police involvement by suddenly asking Curtis for his guns? He already had a gun or two and if he needed more, why not grab them before he left the diner? After all, he seemed quite capable of dealing with his prisoner even unarmed.

[–] spacestation1969 12 years ago

How could someone call him on a cell phone? he just escaped from prison. I guess he could have stolen the guards phone but then he would have had to make up a story about who he was calling, why they were calling etc. the rookie was dumb and messed up the plan sucked to begin with

[–] Jakealope 12 years ago

He was just posing as a guy on the run, it was the Arab and that guy he blasted who were the escaped cons. Like I said, I don't require documentary realism in a movie but if his team wanted to pass him a message, they would have had better ways than send the other guy to meet him in the open. Then to top it off, start handing off weapons to each other. That should have all been prepared beforehand.

[–] spacestation1969 12 years ago

the plan sucked to begin with, I'm sure it was an accident that he shot the arab. Few inches and he would have been dead.

[–] noofy311 10 years ago

I know this an old post but...

I had a different take on that scene. I assumed that the kid made a rookie mistake, and Scott expertly played it off by taking his weapon away from him, letting Curtis think he was helping, just to keep everyone calm. Then, in case things changed or Tariq came in the store (or whatever) Curtis is just another shopper, for his own protection.

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wait for iiiiit...

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

Talking in the cash register line about the mission seemed so utterly incompetent.

They mainly talk down the back of the store, not in the cash register line.

Scott further risk blowing his cover and risking police involvement by suddenly asking Curtis for his guns?

Curtis tells Scott that he's walking into a trap and they can't back him up at the meeting point. Scott then asks Curtis for his gun and extra ammo clips, presumably because he might require them in the likely event of a fire fight. 🐭

[–] Jakealope 9 years ago

The whole meetup seemed so amateurish, and these guys were supposed to be so professional. After all, the other prisoner saw the whole thing from the car outside.

What are they doing? Why do they come here?
Some kind of instinct, memory, what they used to do.

[–] armenianmovieman 9 years ago

I think that was the point... Ed O'Neill's character tells Val Kilmer that he has a plan but it must go down EXACTLY as he says.... It seems the plan was intentionally high risk, as it is more than likely that Ed O'neil was aware of the girl being snatched.