Snake eyes - a fast and fun, thriller!

'Snake eyes' is a film, which in my opinion has always been extremely underrated. Perhaps it was the expectation associated with De Palma, after all this movie followed 'Carlito's way' and 'Mission Impossible',two fantastic films. Some might see this film as a disappointment but i think 'Snake Eyes' contains some of De Palma's best work.

The film is essentially a thriller with the story revolving around Rick Santoro. Rick is a crooked cop who finds himself sucked into a conspiracy when attending a boxing match. Soon Rick finds himself entangled in an investigation which will test his conscience and his loyalty. The story is an aspect of the film which has been criticised most. I think the in-closed setting of a casino provides a great environment for the thriller. The excitement and bustle of the casino gives the story a quick pace and makes the opening scenes very busy instantly drawing the audience in. I think a thriller lives of intrigue and 'Snake Eyes' does provide mystery at the beginning but it is from here that the film suffers. The film lacks the twists and turns that keep the audience on the edge of their seat. Likewise the end, although not bad in general suffers from a lack surprise. It feels rather flat and predictable.

The main character, Santaro is a hero who seems perfect in the environment of Las Vegas. Nicholas Cage gives a very Cage-esquire performance with plenty of charm and humour. Although Santaro is self centred you cant help but like him and it is this charm which helps the story. Gary Sinise also puts in good performance playing the straight army guy to his usual high standard.

However it is De Palma's camera work which really excites in this otherwise average film. His use of point of view shots is particularly impressive. We see a lot of the story from character's view, this creates an involving feel meaning you can detect where character's stories overlap. The opening fight is shot very well also, instead of just seeing the fighters slug it out, you are shown the fans reactions. This means you feel the excitement of the fight but also see the plot develop. Later in a flashback we see the fighters in the ring showing the events from their perspective. From this comes new plot developments unseen before and it is this holding back of information which makes the film interesting. There are other cool uses of the camera such as when a birds eye view is used to show the different Hotel rooms. This sequence really creates atmosphere which 'Snake Eyes' thrives on.

Overall the film isn't the smartest thriller in the world. it isn't going to have you scratching your head all night. I think this is quite refreshing though. Many thrillers are hard to follow and often dull. 'Snake Eyes' provides a fast entertaining story which allows the audience to relax and enjoy the film. Watch this film with an easy going mind and you could find yourself really enjoying the film. De Palma's camera work makes this film worth watching by itself. 'Snake Eyes' is a cool thriller which although flawed has a certain charm, hope you feel the same way.

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