William Fichtner in Albino Alligator

Question: I once heard you were credited with playing the harmonica on the soundtrack for "Albino Alligator." Is that correct?
William Fichtner: "I wish!"

"The dark horse [Fichtner] in this film is the one who fascinates."

As you might expect, Dillon, Dunaway, Sinise, and Skeet Ulrich turn in excellent performances, but the dark horse in this film is the one who fascinates. Fichtner's experience has been mainly in the New York theatre scene. He may also be familiar to regular viewers of the sitcom Grace Under Fire and anyone who happened to catch Strange Days. Fichtner demonstrates an acute awareness of every nuance of his role. Law is an ugly work of art - a complete mental case and a disgusting human being. His love of power, intimidation and violence make him the ideal terrorist and a convincing ex-con.
Jill Dixon / SEE Magazine, May 8th, 1997

Jeff Keibel: I commented on the use of actor William Fichtner's dialogue used in one of the soundtrack's songs. Fichtner's character explains the meaning of albino alligator. I found this reunion of sorts for Brook and Fichtner to be a good pairing. He was unaware that both he and Fichtner worked on Michael Mann's "Heat" previously, where Fichtner plays a sleazoid banker whom Robert De Niro steals a load of money from.
Keibel's interview with Michael Brook / evo.org

Fichtner plays the more volatile of the three criminals, and he brings an unnerving intensity to his performance.
-- Greg King

Action thriller allows actors to strut their stuff

The Philadelphia Tribune
January 31, 1997
Action thriller allows actors to strut their stuff. It's not surprising that Academy Award winning actor, Kevin Spacey makes his directorial debut with "Albino Alligator." This is a wonderful actor's vehicle because the story allows several performers to strut their stuff.
Dova, Milo and Law, a trio of burglars speeding away from a bungled heist accidentally intersect the path of a couple of surveillance cops chasing a mysterious gun smuggler. The cops are instantly killed and Milo (Gary Sinise) is badly hurt. Hoping to buy themselves some time, Dova (Matt Dillon) leads Milo and Law (William Fichtner) into a remote subterranean bar, but this is a mistake. The police have surrounded the bar believing they have trapped the gun smuggler. The trio immediately take the weary patrons of Dino's hostage.
Dino (M. Emmet Walsh), the owner informs the desperate men that there is no back door. Jack (John Spencer) mouths off to the men, but he' s harmless. Teenage Danny (Skeet Ulrich) plays pool and Law notices that he has a secret attachment to the barmaid. The last patron is a silent drinker, Guy (Viggo Mortensen). Faye Dunaway plays Janet, a smart, ballsy barmaid who wisely sizes up the trio. She needles Dova; intense the dangerous psychotic Law and commiserates with the mortally wounded Milo. She springs into action when the trio exhibit their deadly edge. Outside on the street, Agent Browning (Joe Mantegna) prepares for a long siege since Dova refuses to talk to him.
"Albino Alligator," set in the underground bar where secrets of the patrons and the trio are unearthed, ultimately concerns the sacrifices that desperation breeds. Milo, who accepts the limits of his existence, takes a stand against the murderous plans of Dova and Law. Meanwhile, Guy and Janet are determined to outwit their captors without becoming sacrificial lambs.
Director Spacey creates a riveting suspenseful psychological thriller with a stunning ending. Casting the marvelous Faye Dunaway was pure genius. She is self assured and reckless as she taunts Dova played by a matured Matt Dillon. But, this is a woman who knows men and she' s not afraid. William Fichtner, last seen as a murderous cop in "Strange Days" and a lethal club owner in "The Underneath," has definitely shed his softer image from television. Fichtner is superb as the hardened ex-con, whose deadly presence even makes Milo a bit nervous. And, Gary Sinise, the criminal with a conscience, give a heartwarming performance.
Spacey and screenwriter, Christian Forte doesn't make it easy for the audience. All of the characters posses gloomy uncomfortable shades to their personalities so, it's difficult to identify with any one of them. So, who do you route for? Well, that's not the point. The filmmakers wants the audience to consider these tangle, difficult questions of morality. What would you do?
Ethnic NewsWatch © SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
Philadelphia Tribune, 01-31-1997