The Spanish Prisoner – Review

As luggage is x-rayed, Joe Ross (Scott) is asked the purpose of his trip by Caribbean customs agents. “Business,” he replies, and then goes back to his notepad of scribbled equations. He and business partner George Lang (Jay) are there for an important presentation.

George and company secretary Susan Ricci (Pidgeon) pass customs next. Work for hire contractors Joe and George give their presentation next to corporate executive Klien, and additional company managers. The duo is pitching their plan for control of the market segment, and general investment strategies which would stay well ahead of the competition by multiple years, as well as generating a significant windfall. Joe considers this a proprietary process.

He is also quite focused on his bonus, however most of the executives there are wanting to enjoy themselves on the beach and aren’t worried about short term cash needs. Susan asks Joe how the meeting went as everyone is smoking cigars, and takes Joe’s picture on the beach. As Joe returns the favor for Susan and snaps a picture of her, a man behind him getting off of a small boat offers him $1,000 for the camera.

Joe is uncertain of what is exactly happening, so he gives the man the camera at no cost, and later learns that the man is one Jimmy Dell, rich entrepreneur. As Joe heads back to New York, Jimmy asks him to deliver a package to his sister, and plans a dinner in the city for Friday. Clearly it is an innocent exchange.

The players then find themselves slipping into a spiraling game of espionage, bribery, status, power, paranoia, money, competition and anxiety. Mystery swirls and distrust bubbles in The Spanish Prisoner. What is real and who does one trust?!

The multi-layered puzzle of a story is well crafted, and the script is sharp and interesting. The cast is pretty good, so check it out if you are in the mood for a dramatic thriller.