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Snake Eyes poster

Snake Eyes

year 1998decade 90sdirector Brian De Palmagenre Mystery thriller

98 minutes

IMDb
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Nicolas Cage Detective Rick Santoro, Atlantic City PD
Gary Sinise Commander Kevin Dunne, USN
Carla Gugino Julia Costello
John Heard Gilbert Powell
Stan Shaw Lincoln Tyler
Kevin Dunn Lou Logan
Michael Rispoli Jimmy George
Joel Fabiani SecDef Charles Kirkland
Luis Guzmán Cyrus
David Anthony Higgins Ned Campbell
Mike Starr Walt McGahn
Peter McRobbie Gordon Pritzker
Tamara Tunie Anthea
Chip Zien Mickey Alter
Alain Goulem PPV Director
Chip Chuipka Zeitz
Éric Hoziel Tarik Ben Rabat
Richard Zeman Dunne's Agent #1
Richard Lemire Dunne's Agent #2
Christina Fulton Roundgirl
Jernard Burks Tyler's Bodyguard
Christian Napoli Michael Santoro
Adam Flores Jose Pacifico Ruiz

Snake Eyes | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Sean Fennesseyhost Van Lathanproducer Craig Horlbeckproducer Chia Hao Tatproducer Eduardo Ocampo
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

Opening one-shot; assassination; video replay; bathroom cleanup; flashbacks; elevator chase; staircase account; reveal and executions.

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:39Read transcript
  • Nick Cage’s opening performance is rated near the top of his intensity scale, and his synchronization with the crowd is praised.
  • The assassination and the replay that exposes the pulled punch are nominated.
  • Julia Costello cleaning blood off herself in the bathroom is nominated.
  • Rick Santoro and Lincoln Tyler screaming at each other is nominated for its overacting.
  • The red-haired accomplice pulling Kevin Dunne away from the fight is nominated as a flashback.
  • The elevator chase and overhead view through the hotel rooms are nominated.
  • Julia telling Rick her story on the staircase, with split-screen staging, is nominated.
  • Rick discovering the hidden video of Kevin is nominated.
  • Kevin’s explanation of his conspiracy is praised while another participant calls it self-serving rationalization.
  • Kevin’s chest suicide and the title phrase are nominated.
  • The opening is selected as the strongest and most memorable scene.
  • All four point-of-view/flashback sequences are praised for changing the audience’s understanding.
  • Kevin revealing himself and executing accomplices is an alternate choice.
  • The panel questions whether Rick and Kevin’s old friendship has enough grounding.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Atlantic City heavyweight fights; Rick’s gold flip phone; public excitement about the defense secretary; a Columbo reference.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:40Read transcript
  • A major heavyweight fight in Atlantic City is the leading 1998 marker.
  • Rick’s large gold flip phone is proposed.
  • Spectators applauding the defense secretary is proposed.
  • A Columbo reference is proposed as period-specific and culturally faded.

What’s Aged the Best?

The fixed athlete; De Palma’s craftsmanship; villain reveal; innocent bystander; recurring visual clues; a compromised cop choosing integrity.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:56Read transcript
  • An athlete driven by debt into fixing a contest is called newly topical.
  • Brian De Palma’s control of a modest thriller is praised as increasingly rare.
  • The moment Kevin is revealed as the villain is nominated.
  • The random hotel guest who expects sex is shot despite ending the encounter after the woman says she is in trouble.
  • De Palma’s clues that gain meaning on replay are nominated.
  • Rick deciding he will no longer be bought is nominated.
  • The casino’s willingness to serve as a film location is proposed.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Overhead hotel rooms; Julia’s glasses on the floor; the cracked-door party shot.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:27Read transcript
  • The long overhead view through adjoining hotel rooms is nominated.
  • The floor-level image of Julia’s glasses before they are stepped on is nominated.
  • The long view through a cracked door into the party is nominated for its voyeuristic effect.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Removing the filmed tidal-wave ending.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:24Read transcript
  • The omitted tidal wave is selected because the storm is set up without payoff.
  • A participant says the existing tidal-wave footage would make the ending substantially better.
  • Another explanation is that De Palma decided the movie was about intrigue rather than spectacle.
  • The beach kiss is criticized as too tidy and too much like a romantic comedy.

What’s Aged the Worst?

The assassination plot depends on a 1998 lack of ubiquitous cameras and is needlessly elaborate.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:26Read transcript
  • In 2025, cameras would expose many parts of the arena conspiracy.
  • The fixed fight, disposable assassin, and Julia’s public handoff plan are criticized as unnecessarily complicated.

How Would Van Lathan Get Out of This One?

Rick separately reframes Kevin’s betrayal to his wife and sets boundaries with his girlfriend.

Flex pick · Van Lathan

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:14Read transcript
  • The speaker chooses Rick and tells his wife that Kevin’s betrayal proves her prior suspicions right. — Van Lathan
  • For Monique, the speaker proposes reasserting that their time apart is separate and offering a later hotel visit. — Van Lathan
  • The panel questions why Rick must arrange the late-night pizza and jokes about how both women might resist his framing. — Van Lathan

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Restore the tidal wave; De Palma is better with lurid material; swap the leads; Nicolas Cage can play any casino-world role.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:50Read transcript
  • The tidal-wave ending is again argued to be better.
  • The Untouchables is called less interesting than De Palma’s less respectable, more lurid films; others partly disagree.
  • Swapping Gary Sinise and Nicolas Cage is proposed as a more interesting version.
  • Nicolas Cage is proposed as uniquely able to play nearly any Las Vegas or Atlantic City role.

Casting What-Ifs

Al Pacino; Will Smith; swapped Sinise and Cage.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:41Read transcript
  • Al Pacino is identified as an offered alternative for Kevin Dunne, with the need for an older Rick discussed.
  • Will Smith is identified as another offered alternative, and his choosing Enemy of the State is defended.
  • The panel says Smith as Kevin would have let him play an unusual villain.
  • Swapping Gary Sinise and Nicolas Cage remains an alternate recasting idea.

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Fight Night.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:45Read transcript
  • Snake Eyes is questioned because the movie has no dice game.
  • The title is defended as referring to Kevin’s predatory deception and everyone losing to the system.
  • Fight Night is proposed and accepted as the better title.

Cruise or Hanks?

Tom Cruise as Rick Santoro and Tom Hanks as Kevin Dunne.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:57Read transcript
  • Tom Cruise as Rick and Tom Hanks as Kevin is proposed.
  • The villain reveal and their combined star power are argued to make the pairing especially effective.
  • A Cruise-and-Will-Smith alternative is raised, but their age difference is offered as an objection.
  • The panel invents a hallway sprint for Cruise.

Picking Nits

Pre-fight party; ignored blood; weak security; implausible fighters; Julia’s plan and glasses; ignored assault; abrupt romance.

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:45:09Read transcript
  • A model-and-drug party immediately before a heavyweight fight is questioned, with a possible Tyson-era defense.
  • Almost nobody reacting to Julia being covered in blood is criticized.
  • Rick reaching the defense secretary without a security screening is criticized.
  • The fighters’ physiques are questioned relative to elite 1990s heavyweights.
  • Julia’s public whistleblowing plan is criticized as incoherent, while fear of interception and the secretary’s public standing are offered as explanations.
  • The crowd becoming impatient in the first minute is criticized.
  • José Pacifico Ruiz’s performance and confused execution of the fixed fight are criticized, while participants disagree about whether he understands the plan.
  • Julia relying on glasses rather than contacts is questioned; her collision with the wall is praised, and the lenses are said to look too weak for her impairment.
  • Nobody noticing the heavyweight champion punch a police officer is criticized.
  • Carla making a move on Nick at the end is criticized as unearned, though his earlier advance offers minimal setup.
  • Other 1990s movies are criticized for forcing romantic energy between the male and female leads.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A prequel about Rick and Kevin growing up.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:52:33Read transcript
  • Prestige television is briefly considered, then rejected because the movie is only judged fine.
  • A prequel showing Kevin’s dark side while Rick fails to see it is proposed.

Is This Movie Better With…?

Joe Davis and John Smoltz calling the fight; Byron Mayo in the backstage role.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:52:59Read transcript
  • Joe Davis and John Smoltz are proposed as deliberately low-energy fight announcers.
  • Byron Mayo is proposed for a backstage role, though the usual contributor for the bit is absent.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Why do villains ever skip silencers?

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:55:02Read transcript
  • Using a silencer every time is proposed.
  • A silencer is described as bigger, bulkier, longer, and harder to conceal; attaching it is praised as movie magic.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Serena’s ruby-red ring; the bloody $100 bill; Rick’s jacket; the fight poster.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:55:55Read transcript
  • The bloody bill, Rick’s jacket, and a fight poster are offered.
  • Serena’s ring, visible in the concrete at the end, is selected as another option.

Best Double Feature

Snake Eyes poster
Snake Eyes
Poster unavailable
Blow Out
Poster unavailable
Face/Off
Poster unavailable
Face/Off
Poster unavailable
Domino
Poster unavailable
Dressed to Kill
Poster unavailable
JFK
Poster unavailable
In the Line of Fire
Poster unavailable
No Way Out
Poster unavailable
L.A. Confidential
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:56:57Read transcript
  • Face/Off is the immediate choice for another Nicolas Cage pairing.
  • Dress to Kill, JFK, In the Line of Fire, No Way Out, and L.A. Confidential are offered as alternatives.
  • No Way Out is favored as the closest sleazy political-crime pairing.

Who Won the Movie?

Nicolas Cage and Brian De Palma receive separate final choices; Carla Gugino is considered but not selected.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:58:22Read transcript
  • Nicolas Cage is chosen on the theory that he has never lost a movie in which he is the lead.
  • Brian De Palma is an alternate winner because this was his last memorable commercial success.
  • Carla Gugino is considered but not selected.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Nicolas Cage
Speaker not identified
Brian De Palma
Speaker not identified
Nicolas Cage
Speaker not identified
Brian De Palma

More from the conversation

Nicolas Cage’s performance style, action-star run, and career arc.
Approx. transcript time · 00:01:49Read transcript
Brian De Palma’s authorship, voyeurism, and changing career position.
Approx. transcript time · 00:15:13Read transcript
Gary Sinise, Carla Gugino, and the supporting cast are discussed in career context.
Approx. transcript time · 00:23:17Read transcript
Budget, box office, and Roger Ebert’s one-star review are discussed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:26Read transcript
The group discusses older films disappearing from streaming and recommends physical media.
Approx. transcript time · 01:37:28Read transcript