Hard to sympathize with anyone willing to endanger innocents...

The movie is set in the late 1990's, and a lot has changed since that time. Security responses these days would probably be a lot different. Great movie though, compelling to watch!

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I had the same thought watching this. It is a pet peeve of mine when the hero puts innocent lives at risk (like with some crazy stunt or trying to get away in a chase), usually just to save himself or a loved one. It was especially bad here because the guy was a hostage negotiator so he should know what that means

Some things to think about before you go on a rant about the reluctance to breach:

Calculating risks to hostages in a hostage take situation must be done before storming in. Negotiators do exist and will be implemented in non-terrorist situations.

Two of the hostages were officers. Big time ones.

They DID attempt a small scale breach, and would have succeeded with zero casualties to hostages had Palermo not caved, and took the shot. Danny did not bluff with killing a hostage until after this took place, and did so in retaliation.

With Frost being let go, and Niebaum dead, both of Danny's biggest leverages were compromised, and the FBI wasted no time to relieve Sabian and prepare a full scale breach.

It's a movie. Let some sh*t go, eat your popcorn, and enjoy.

- The General has spoken.

Taking hostages wasn't a planned or calculated decision by Roman.

In case you don't remember, Roman had just met with the DA who told him they had a case against him. His lawyer basically tells him he's fvcked and to cut a deal. So in the spare of the moment Roman decides to confront Nebaum to ask what his involvement in the whole thing was. Nebaum then tells his security guard to get Roman out of the building and a struggle ensues and the security guard foolishly pulls a gun on Roman and the gun goes off while Roman tries to wrestle it away from him.

It all happens in the spare of the moment. Roman never intended on creating a hostage situation in the hopes of clearing his name.

I don't know how you could seriously have such a lack of empathy for Roman and what's happening to him. Up until the hostage situation it's been established that Roman is excellent at what he does, is well respected and liked by his peers and co-workers and was set-up and framed for a very serious crime that he did not commit. The evidence seems over-whelming against him and he could be facing some serious jail time. Again, his lawyer tells him they have too strong a case against him and to cut a deal. He was almost certain to go to trial and be convicted.

As far as the hostages being in danger, Roman knows the rules of engagement in a hostage situation and knew as long as he was controlling the situation that SWAT was NOT going to storm in their and shoot the place up. It was the dirty cops involved in the conspiracy that stormed the building and shot Nebaum and Roman can't be held accountable for the actions of corrupt cops trying to cover their crime.

Yes, something could have happened to one of the hostages but it was very unlikely and Roman knew this. Did you not hear the constant dialogue about the rules of engagement in a hostage situation? It's made clear to us - the audience, that Roman knows the hostages aren't in any jeopardy as long as everyone is following orders and doing their job.

I agree with you, OP.

Hard to sympathize with anyone willing to endanger innocents...

Thread is really old but I had to post anyway because I agree with this.

The movie takes the OPPOSITE reaction to the movie called "Inside Man" with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen.

In one part, Denzel threatens Clive, by saying that he is one call away to tell all the cops to storm the place and Clive tells him that "You do NOT burst in on a hostage situation when the kidnapper hasn't hurt anyone and is showing to be not violent despite of being armed".

Then when Clive pretends to kill someone the cops go crazy and decide that the only way to deal with them is to storm the place with guns, no more negotiation.

Pretty much exactly the opposite of this movie. And I think it makes more sense that way, as you expained.