Dead Silence

NEGOTIATING THRILLS
DEAD SILENCE is based on Jeffery Deavers' excellent "A Maiden's Grave," and as is in most instances, the book is better than the movie. But to screenwriter Donald Stewart's credit, his script maintains much of Deavers' plotting and nuances to be a credible adaptation.
A busload of deaf mute students is held hostage by a notorious bankrobber, played with effective and cold mania by the underrated Kim Coates. The schoolteacher (Marlee Matlin) is heroic in trying to come up with ways to get her kids out of this mess. But FBI negotiator John Potter (played with controlled excellence by the ever dependable James Garner) has his own way of dealing with the hostage situation.
There are some nifty plot twists (a norm for the crafty Deavers) and the cast plays them out well. Director Daniel J. Petrie, Jr., focuses on the characterizations with minimal over-wrought histrionics. Charles Martin Smith plays the swarmy assistant attorney general; Scott Speedman in an early...

Riveting!
I found this suspense thriller excellent--in writing, acting, directing, and setting. There was continuous conflict, danger, surprises, and suspense. The characters were believable, and it had one great twist near the end which took me by surprise. Thoroughly entertaining! Get it!

Nothing is as good as READING Deaver
The movie was OK, it followed the story line pretty well. Good actors, but you know, if you read very much, the movie is rarely as good as the book. But overall, I liked it. It took me FOREVER to find, untill I thought of Amazon. Thanks 'A'

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