Product Details

• Actors: Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen
• Directors: Kevin Spacey
• Writers: Christian Forte
• Producers: Barbara A. Hall, Brad Krevoy, Bradley Jenkel, Steven Stabler
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304455984
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,420 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Actor Kevin Spacey made his directorial debut in this uneven crime thriller that has the claustrophobic feel of a play. Matt Dillon, Gary Sinise, and William Fichtner play a trio of robbers who have just pulled a job gone wrong. On the run from the cops, they hide out in a basement bar, where they try to figure out their next move. There's a certain amount of urgency, however, because Sinise, the brains of the outfit, is badly wounded--which means that Fichtner, the group psycho, is allowed to run wild, terrorizing the barflies unlucky enough to be their hostages. As the cops swarm outside the bar--thinking these three are major criminals rather than small potatoes--tensions mount, mostly through misunderstanding. But it's all a lot of talk, not nearly enough of it interesting, that pushes the movie slowly to its inevitable conclusion. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cast,great director can only mean great film right?, December 1, 1999

By 

Miss Gail E Robertson (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Albino Alligator (DVD)

It was always obvious that Kevin Spacey would only ever assemble a first rate cast for his first movie as director, and he was as discerning with his choice of script as director as he is with his acting jobs. This movie plays like a play and tellingly the best performances come from the stage actors. Gary Sinise delivers a controlled performance that demonstrates the humanity of his character, while William Fichtner manages to carry the bulk of the humour and the horror without going over the top. The script and Spacey's direction keep the tension high despite being confined to one room for much of the movie (think 12 Angry Men - Spacey actually consulted Sidney Lumet for advice).

Where the film falls down is in the weak performances of two of the most important characters, played by Matt Dillon and Faye Dunaway. Both performances are one-dimensional and affected (and Dunaway has the complexion of a Barbie doll - plastic). The rest of the cast has little to do but make the most of what they have (especially M. Emmett Walsh).

See this movie. There are a lot of worse and more successful movies out there than this one. Quality's very rare these days. So make the most of it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An intense flick with a hell of a bite, March 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Albino Alligator (DVD)

Unlike others, I did not find this movie, confusing or convoluted at all (Dr. Roberts from Austin needs to go back to med school). The film is paced with an unpredictable feel that catapults the viewer into the desperate situation inside Dino's Tavern. Kevin Spacey's direction is the work of a master, capturing a brief but awesome chase scene with chilling results, and sustaining a panick-driven mood throughout the unfolding story. Dillon is in fine form, as is Gary Sinise, the multi-talented thinking man's actor. The creepy William Fichtner plays such a psycho, you'd think he was born for this role. And, yes, Ms. Dunaway delivers another excellent performance.

Sounds like the nay-sayers don't like psychological thrillers that are intentionally yet methodically paced in such a style that keeps us guessing and on the edge of our seats.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been worse., April 16, 2008

By 

Joel Munyon "Joel Munyon" (Joliet, Illinois - the poohole of America.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Albino Alligator (DVD)

The transition from actor to director is not always as easy as it seems. Sometimes it takes years to make the transition, and that is quite apparent with Kevin Spacey's Albino Alligator. Spacey attempts to hit a homerun on his first at bat but ends up getting a solid single instead.

The film deals with a botched heist (not the sort of story-line that is exactly lacking in Hollywood these days) and the relationships between the three main criminals. What we see is the thin lines between loyalty and survival, and the great lengths some will go to ensure their own preservation, even at the expense of those closest to them.

There are moments in intense drama throughout the film, and a climax that you probably won't see coming, but overall, Albino Alligator reminds me of that glass of water in the middle of the night. It's refreshing, but if you weren't so tired and were able to pour a glass of something else, you would. This is lazy-day-watch-it-on-IFC entertainment, not go-out-of-your-way-to-rent-it entertainment.