Ronin (1998)

You would think with a movie blog, I would have a list of movies to watch (which I do), but I'm just going with what interests me right now. What is a Ronin? A Ronin is basically a samurai who is shamed because he did not do his best to protect his master from death. So, now this solider roams the countryside looking for work as freelancers. The same could be said about the film that I chose to watch for today called Ronin that was released in 1998 and directed by the late John Frankenheimer (The Island Of Dr. Moreau). The film stars Robert De Niro (The Irishman) as former CIA agent Sam, who is hired by Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) along with a rogue group of guys in Vincent (Jean Reno), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgård), Spence (Sean Bean), and Larry (Skipp Sudduth) to steal a briefcase that contains something unknown before the Russians can get their hands on it, but what happens when one betrays them all? The film also stars Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies) as Seamus O'Rourke, Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker) as Jean-Pierre, Féodor Atkine (Love And Death) as Mikhi, Bernard Bloch (French Spies) as Sergi, Katarina Witt (Jerry Maguire) as Natacha Kirilova, and the late Amidou (Rules Of Engagement) as the Man at exchange.

So to start the convo, it's quite the cast they gathered for the film with names like De Niro, Reno etc., but was the film any good? I loved the idea of the film in where there is mission that they are going on and there is a lot of money on the line, but then it just goes a little overboard with the twists and the turns. So, we start with one of the team members stealing the briefcase and it becomes a hunt for him, but then it just changes way too many times in my opinion, but I also understand what they were doing and why. It was to show you that there was a lot more than just money on the line when it came to that briefcase because there was also national pride going on. It shouldn't come as a surprise with the conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland being a hot topic in the 90's. Reno and De Niro were masterful in the film and it really shouldn't come as a surprise because they are two of the best in the business. The best thing about this film comes towards the last half of the film when Reno and De Niro go on the car chase through Paris. It's one of the more exhilarating and well shot car chase scenes I have seen in a film. Other than that, I thought it was a pretty decent film, an OK follow up to Heat for De Niro, but if you love these types of films then check it out for yourself for free right now on Youtube. I am going to give the film an B- for a final grade.