One of the few movies that I walked out of. You'd think that with Dustin Hoffman and a post-Pulp Travolta would be gold...nope. Unbelievably boring and the acting is so basic that I had to split the theater and sneak into Boogie Nights instead.

Unexpected ending, but the movie was boring overall. I don't know if it was that the actors were wrong for this movie or if it was just a bad movie.

i almost completely forgot about this movie until they showed it on encore and watched again. its safe say that film hasnt aged well, the acting is amateruish especially by jon travolta, the script is sloppy, with obvious polarity of who were suposed... (read more) i almost completely forgot about this movie until they showed it on encore and watched again. its safe say that film hasnt aged well, the acting is amateruish especially by jon travolta, the script is sloppy, with obvious polarity of who were suposed to believe to be the good/bad guy, and the general idea of "media obssessed over something they dont care to truely understand" feels ripped from Natural Born Killers. Thats not really a fair comparison but things arent anymore engaging by the dull direction and ham fisted message

Travolta in a rare outing where he doesn't play Travolta, and Hoffman in a more subdued role, just about make this a 3 star film.

I was flicking through the movie channels when I saw this was starting. After settling in, it was impossible for me to turn over. John Travolta seems so different here, and it's great. Dustin Hoffman is amazing, as always, is brilliant. Journalistic ... (read more) I was flicking through the movie channels when I saw this was starting. After settling in, it was impossible for me to turn over. John Travolta seems so different here, and it's great. Dustin Hoffman is amazing, as always, is brilliant. Journalistic integrity? Pfft. I don't care about the social commentary, or applying it to the world around me: I watched a movie and I enjoyed it as a movie. I will say that it's not as effective in what it's trying to do as, say, Wag the Dog. -cough-

A decent movie with some not-so-subtle commentary about the state of our country's media and our society.

A receintly fired security guard (John Travolta) tries to get his job back at gunpoint only to end up taking hostages. A down and out reporter (Dustin Hoffman) manipulates him turning a minor incident into a national spectical that can only end in tr... (read more) A receintly fired security guard (John Travolta) tries to get his job back at gunpoint only to end up taking hostages. A down and out reporter (Dustin Hoffman) manipulates him turning a minor incident into a national spectical that can only end in tragedy. Great acting (especially from Hoffman but really the man could act better then most in his sleep if he had to), in Costa Gavras look at how the parasites in the news media have abandoned all principals of honor or truth in pursuit of ratings, and how a gullable public continues to fall for it.

Humans are so gullible. They'll believe anything the TV tells them, like John Travolta is a good actor.

this movie was good. it showed wat goes hostagee goes through and y he makes hostage situations because of his ordeal. john travolta was excellant and as always funni w/ seriousness

If Hollywood, could make a realistic movie, this would be it. This theme is so true in today's soceity. Dog-eat-Dog. We were meant for so much more ... have we lost ourselves?