Pregovarač

Rhona Mitra adds a touch of class, as hostage negotiator-turned-lecturer, to director Adrian Wills' movie ostensibly about a bank robbery that swiftly goes awry. The robbers find themselves in a situation they cannot escape and must resort to holding bank staff and customers hostage.

The police call in Caroline Grainger (Mitra) their regular negotiator. Superficially it appears straightforward to the police. However, one of the robbers Eric Sanders (Zack Peladeau) has contrived the situation because he has a score to settle with the negotiator. From there on, this develops into a battle of wits between the two lead protagonists.

The story is neatly laid out by Wills, events move along at a brusque pace; including finding sufficient time to reveal the angst felt by everyone. The robbers are in a desperate fix, the terrified customers in equal peril, the police face a dilemma, the inevitable swat team arrive twitchy and unpredictable, while Grainger realises she is personally involved at the core of proceedings in more ways than the police are comfortable with.

In a nutshell, it makes for a compelling view. Rhona Mitra's charismatic presence, as an intelligent, calm, canny, confident woman is what makes this tale work well. She really ought to be an A-listed star.