Kevin Spacey's first (and so far only) film as a director is especially worth checking out for the brilliant performances by an all-star cast. The plot – which involves 3 fugitive criminals who're stuck in a clandestine bar, surrounded by the police – is highly unoriginal and regretfully mediocre. There's no doubt that Spacey is a talented storyteller, though…he makes intelligent use of the claustrophobic location of the bar, as the villains slowly realize they have nowhere to run to. Unfortunately, the script tries to include too many intrigues and it aims towards sentimentality near the second half of the film. Like I said already…the performers lift up this film to a status higher than it deserves. The gangster trio exists out of Gary Sinise (as the remorseful and ethical crook),Bill Fichtner (who's downright psychopathic) and a terrific Matt Dillon as the `leader' who constantly bounces between heartless cruelty and remorseful tact. Faye Dunaway shines as the hostess against her will, while the young Ulrich makes a good impression as the seemly doomed hostage. A final honorable mention for M.Emmet Walsh who still is one of cinema's most underrated actors. I'd love to give more praise to Viggo Mortensen as well, but his role really lacked some background and inspiration. It's all very professional and admirable but….what's the point?

Kevin Spacey's directorial debut portrays some thieves hijacking a New Orleans bar while the police try to manage the situation. "Albino Alligator" does an interesting job looking at everything: the people in the bar trying to maintain their composure and sanity, while the cops try to figure out what to do.

Maybe this is a look at our lives in general (the way that we find out some things about the characters),or maybe it was made so that Spacey could call himself a director, I don't know for certain. It's not a great movie, but interesting. Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen, John Spencer, Skeet Ulrich, M. Emmet Walsh and Joe Mantegna all do as good a job as we can expect from them (don't let anyone tell you that Faye Dunaway has outlived her usefulness; trust me, she still has what it takes).

A trio of small-time crooks -- dim-witted Dova (a sound performance by Matt Dillon),his more smart and sensible brother Milo (the always excellent Gary Sinise),and volatile psycho Law (William Fichtner in peak creepy and intense form) -- are forced to seek refuge in a bar and take everyone inside hostage after they botch a robbery. Director Kevin Spacey, working from a tight and gripping script by Christian Forte, relates the riveting story at a smooth pace, milks plenty of nerve-rattling claustrophobic tension from the premise, maintains a tough no-nonsense tone throughout, delivers several startling moments of abrupt'n'brutal violence (a car crash that sends a man flying out of a windshield at the start stands out as an especially impressive set piece),and pulls off a fairly surprising ending. The sturdy acting from the fine cast keeps the whole thing humming: Faye Dunaway brings her redoubtable A game to the role of sassy and cynical barmaid Janet Boudreaux, Viggo Mortensen likewise excels as the quiet and mysterious Guy Foucard, Skeet Ulrich is solid and likable as the naive Danny, Joe Mantegna huffs and puffs with rip-snorting élan as the hard-nosed Agent G.D. Browning, and M. Emmet Walsh is a total rascally treat in his regrettably smallish part as crusty old bar owner Dino. Mark Plummer's handsome widescreen cinematography makes fluid use of a gliding camera and boasts one doozy of an overhead tracking shot. An enjoyable nail-biter.