YMMV / The Negotiator

• Ending Fatigue: The climax seems to drag out for a couple of extra minutes teasing the audience that Danny might actually shoot Frost and get some extra revenge. Everything is resolved at that point, so it's a tad unnecessary.
• Esoteric Happy Ending: Although Danny has cleared his name and exposed Frost as the true murderer, he's likely going to do jail time anyway for taking hostages and destroying Federal property.
• Funny Moments: I AM TALKING! NOW DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT EVER DRESS UP LIKE A SCHOOLGIRL AND GET YA ASS SPANKED?! This is after he tells the rookie negotiator to never say no to a hostage taker.
• Harsher in Hindsight:
  • In Breaking Bad Dean Norris' character is killed for real in a quite similar manner to his fake death in this film.
  • The Accidental Murder of Niebaum that turns out to be not so accidental is especially sad in light of J. T. Walsh passing away before the film was even released.
  • The film features Kevin Spacey as the only one who is definitely heroic.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Samuel L. Jackson's character screaming that he knows the rules of engagement. He would star in a film called that two years later.
• Just Here for Godzilla: Some critics cited seeing Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson together in a movie as reason enough to see it.
• Like You Would Really Do It: Danny killing Scott as a demonstration that he's willing to hurt hostages. The fact that he does so in a separate room and the shot cuts away as soon as the shot is fired is a telltale hint that he didn't really kill him. Sure enough, he was just Bound and Gagged in the other room.
• Slow-Paced Beginning: The film's first act is pretty slow and plodding leading up to Nate's sudden death. Once Danny instigates a hostage situation, things kick into gear.

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