Snake Eyes

Main Plot

"Snake Eyes," directed by Brian De Palma, is a thriller set against the backdrop of a high-profile boxing match in Atlantic City. The film follows Rick Santoro, a corrupt police detective who becomes embroiled in a complex assassination plot. During the boxing event, the Secretary of Defense is assassinated, triggering a chaotic investigation amidst a severe storm that hits the city. As Santoro delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy that tests his loyalties and ethics. The plot thickens as he encounters various individuals, including a mysterious woman who is crucial to unraveling the conspiracy. Throughout the night, Santoro is forced to confront his own corruption and reevaluate his life choices. The film combines elements of political intrigue and personal redemption, set within the tense atmosphere of a locked-down arena. "Snake Eyes" is characterized by De Palma's signature style of suspense and visual storytelling, capturing the high stakes and the claustrophobic setting of the casino where most of the action unfolds.

Characters

• Nicolas Cage plays Rick Santoro, a corrupt Atlantic City police detective who uncovers a conspiracy during a boxing match assassination.
• Gary Sinise plays Commander Kevin Dunne, a military officer involved in a political assassination conspiracy at a boxing match.
• John Heard played Detective Cassel, who investigates a murder at a boxing match, intertwining with the protagonist's uncovering of a political conspiracy.

Ending Explained

In the climactic conclusion of Brian De Palma's 1998 film "Snake Eyes," the protagonist, Rick Santoro (played by Nicolas Cage), a corrupt Atlantic City police detective, unravels a conspiracy surrounding the assassination of the U.S. Secretary of Defense during a boxing match. Throughout the movie, Santoro, initially self-serving and unethical, experiences a transformation as he uncovers the truth behind the assassination. The plot thickens as Santoro discovers that the assassination was orchestrated by a corrupt military officer, Commander Kevin Dunne (played by Gary Sinise), who is also his childhood friend. Dunne had conspired with a defense contractor to profit from a new missile defense system. The Secretary of Defense was killed because he opposed the system, which he found to be faulty. In the final scenes, Santoro exposes the conspiracy during a dramatic confrontation with Dunne at the hotel. Dunne, cornered and defeated, ultimately kills himself. Santoro, now a changed man, decides to right his past wrongs, beginning with confessing his own corruption. The film ends with Santoro resolving to become honest and just, reflecting his moral redemption.