Snake Eyes Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A crooked cop foils a plot to assassinate the Secretary of Defense at a boxing match, but mostly it’s an excuse for fancy camera work and Nicolas Cage to yell.

🍿 Snake Eyes: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Boxing Match and Assassination

Rick Santoro, a flamboyant and corrupt Atlantic City cop, attends a heavyweight boxing match with his friend Kevin Dunne, a Navy Commander in charge of security for the Secretary of Defense. During the fight, the Secretary is assassinated, triggering chaos and setting Santoro on a path to uncover the truth. The initial investigation focuses on securing the arena and identifying the shooter.

Unraveling the Conspiracy

As Santoro investigates, he discovers that the boxing match was fixed and that a mysterious woman in white was involved. He learns that the assassination was part of a larger conspiracy, leading him to question everyone involved, including his close friend Dunne. Flashbacks and surveillance footage provide different perspectives on the events, complicating the investigation.

Betrayal and Revelation

Santoro uncovers evidence pointing to Dunne as the mastermind behind the assassination. Dunne’s motive is revealed to be linked to a faulty missile defense system that the Secretary of Defense was about to expose. He offers Santoro a million dollars to look the other way, testing their friendship and Santoro’s moral code.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage): A flamboyant and corrupt Atlantic City cop who uncovers a conspiracy after the Secretary of Defense is assassinated.
• Commander Kevin Dunne (Gary Sinise): Rick’s best friend and a U.S. Navy Commander who is secretly the mastermind behind the assassination plot.
• Julia Costello (Carla Gugino): A mysterious woman and defense analyst who is targeted for knowing the truth about a fraudulent missile defense system.
• Lincoln Tyler (Stan Shaw): A heavyweight boxer who is paid to take a dive, becoming entangled in the conspiracy.
• Gilbert Powell (John Heard): The owner of the Atlantic City Arena whose company backs the fraudulent AirGuard missile defense system.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Rick Santoro: “This isn’t a beach town. It’s a sewer. It’s my sewer, I am the king.” – Santoro establishes his corrupt dominance over Atlantic City in the opening scene.
• Rick Santoro: “Fat, fabulous, fantastic–I love her.” – Santoro describes his wife.
• Rick Santoro: “Skinny, mean, expensive–I *LOVE* her!” – Santoro describes his mistress.
• Rick Santoro: “Well, at least I got to be on television.” – Santoro reflects on the situation after losing everything.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $73,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $55,591,409
• Worldwide Gross: $103,891,409

💥 Snake Eyes Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing ‘Snake Eyes’ in the theater and being blown away by the opening sequence. It was such a rush! The way the camera snaked through the casino, introducing all the characters, was incredible. The movie definitely has its flaws – the plot gets a little convoluted and the ending is a bit weak – but Cage’s over-the-top performance and De Palma’s stylish direction kept me entertained. Even now it’s visually stunning, and one of the most innovative camera sequences I’ve ever seen.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Nicolas Cage”
  • “Viewers interested in conspiracy thrillers”
  • “Those who appreciate Brian De Palma’s visual style”
  • “People who enjoy fast-paced, suspenseful films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Profanity”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “De Palma’s direction is dazzling, the camera prowling through the arena with relish. Cage, as a cop torn from the pages of pulp magazines, does his best to match De Palma’s bravado.
• Janet Maslin: “Snake Eyes is a stylistic tour de force with a plot that’s ultimately less engaging than its visual flourishes. It’s best appreciated as a showcase for De Palma’s technical prowess and Cage’s unrestrained energy.
• Entertainment Weekly: “The movie starts strong with an unbroken opening shot, but quickly unravels into a generic conspiracy thriller. Cage’s performance is energetic, but the plot contrivances and lack of suspense ultimately disappoint.

Audience Reactions

The opening long take is visually stunning and sets the stage for a thrilling ride.: Viewers praise the technical achievements, particularly the opening sequence, but note the plot becomes less engaging as the movie progresses.

Nicolas Cage’s energetic performance adds a fun, albeit over-the-top, element to the film.: Cage’s portrayal of Rick Santoro is divisive, with some enjoying his over-the-top style and others finding it distracting.

Overall Consensus: ‘Snake Eyes’ is a visually impressive thriller with a strong opening, but the plot and ending fail to live up to its initial promise. It’s a stylish showcase for De Palma’s direction and Cage’s performance, but ultimately flawed.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The opening 13-minute Steadicam shot, while appearing continuous, actually contains several hidden cuts to facilitate the complex choreography and scene transitions.”
• “Nicolas Cage reportedly ad-libbed many of his lines, adding to the character’s frantic and unpredictable energy.”
• “Director Brian De Palma used split-screen techniques to show different perspectives of the assassination, highlighting the theme of unreliable perception.”
• “Will Smith was considered for the lead role before Nicolas Cage was cast.”

🖥️ How to Watch Snake Eyes?

Snake Eyes is available to rent or buy on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability on cable or satellite services. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray can also be purchased online or at major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Snake Eyes, you might like these similar films:

• The Game (1997): Features a conspiracy that spirals out of control, testing the protagonist’s sanity and perceptions of reality.
• Blow Out (1981): Brian De Palma’s earlier thriller also explores themes of conspiracy and the unreliability of recorded evidence.
• State of Play (2009): A journalist and his old friend, now a congressman, investigate a series of suspicious deaths linked to a powerful corporation, uncovering a complex conspiracy.
• The Parallax View (1974): A journalist investigates a shadowy corporation linked to political assassinations, delving into a dangerous conspiracy.

🛒 Snake Eyes Related Products

• Nicolas Cage: 5-Film Collection (DVD): Features Nicolas Cage in a collection of his best roles. This set offers hours of entertainment and a glimpse into Cage’s diverse filmography, a comprehensive compilation for the dedicated Cage fan.
• Atlantic City Casino Playing Cards – Set of 2: Bring the Atlantic City casino atmosphere home with this set of playing cards. These cards will transport you to the exciting world of casinos, a perfect way to experience the thrill of gambling.
• Conspiracy Theories: The Ultimate Book of Shadowy Plots: An exploration of some of history’s greatest conspiracies. Enter the shadowy world of conspiracy with this book.
• Ryuichi Sakamoto – Original Soundtracks 1996-2012: A compilation album featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto’s scores from major motion pictures.

🎧 Soundtrack

Snake Eyes features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Boxer” – performed by The Chemical Brothers
• “Fiesta Mexicana” – performed by Rick Rhodes, Chieli Minucci & Steve Skinner
• “Snake Eyes” – performed by Ryuichi Sakamoto

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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