Spartan

Val Kilmer teams up with David Mamet to create a tightly wound and curse-filled thriller about the president's missing daughter. After early signs point to a kidnapping, more clues open more holes—and more roles for Mamet favorites William H. Macy and Ed O'Neill—and soon the stark violence kicks up to a frenetic pace that doesn't let off the gas. Like all Mamet projects, Spartan keeps it simple, and, to its detriment, the rest of the DVD follows suit. The only extra feature is Kilmer's commentary, and even that has an ominous beginning: "Hi, my name is Val Kilmer, and that's all I have to say." He wasn't kidding. Between lengthy pauses, the leading man drones on about acting styles, research techniques, and movie writing strategies until you've been properly lulled to sleep.