It's not just a stunt. Those 20 minutes quickly establish the cop as a slightly crazed, high-energy guy with few moral scruples. The swirling energy of the scene draws you into his world. The opening of Snake Eyes is so spectacular, you expect great things to come. Beyond that, Snake Eyes is cynical and cold, with a cast of unappealing characters.
Cage is a slimy operator who takes bribes and has the wrong kind of political ambitions.
Gary Sinise plays a top military security officer who'll do almost anything to push a new arms policy. Stan Shaw is a heavyweight boxing champion who seems far too willing to take a dive. But she's quickly pushed aside while the others fight each other for the fast dollar. When one of them has a moral epiphany, it rings hollow. And right about then, De Palma's imagination fails him.