Director: John Frankenheimer
Screenplay: J D Zeik and Richard Weisz from a story by J D Zeik
Cinematographer: Robert Fraisse
Robert De Niro: Sam
Jean Reno: Vincent
Natascha McElhone: Deirdre
Stellan Skarsgard: Gregor
Sean Bean: Spence
Jonathan Pryce: Seamus |
If like me you have come to believe that the political thriller died with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, here's a film to have you to think again. "Ronin", written by J D Zeik and Richard Weisz and directed by veteran director John Frankenheimer, is a political thriller strong on mood and character as it is on action.
Six strangers, from America, England, France and the Eastern Bloc, each with a particular skill - weapons, electronics, covert operations - are brought together in Paris, lured by the opportunity of big bucks for a job well done. Their contact is Deirdre, a young woman with an Irish accent. They know nothing of their employer, they know nothing of each other, and they are given only the barest outline of what is required of them - to secure possession of a briefcase.
"Ronin" presents us with a post-modern world where nothing is certain - motive, identity, loyalty. The performances are strong. De Niro is always a powerful presence on screen and his role as Sam, whom I dubbed Mr Cool, is no exception. Jean Reno is great as Vincent, the French coordinator of operations and the one who forms an alliance with De Niro's Sam. Natashca McElhone is seen here in a very different role from her most recent ones in "The Truman Show" and "Mrs Dalloway". She is thoroughly believable as the young, passionate but inexperienced operative. Not surprisingly, there proves to be traitors in the ranks and you are kept on edge trying to work out who is working with whom.
"Ronin" has intriguing characters and action a plenty. Hold on to your seats for the car chase to end all car chases - it's a real roller-coaster ride! Frankenheimer chose to create the stunts without the benefit of digital compositing. The result is that the audience is put right in the middle of the action, and it is breathtaking.
"Ronin" is a classy spy thriller that combines interesting characters, a plot full of twists and turns, and lots of action.
And watch your video store for the arrival of "Seconds", a critically acclaimed suspense-thriller made by John Frankenheimer in 1966 and starring none other than Rock Hudson.
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