Good
spy thrillers are a dying breed. The last one of any worth was Brian DePalma's
Mission: Impossible. Much like that film, Ronin tends to be a bit too complex,
and that, no doubt, will probably drive most audiences away.
Director
John Frankenheimer (Manchurian Candidate and The Island of Dr. Moreau) calls the
shots and gets help from a heavy duty cast headed by veteran actors Robert DeNiro
and Jean Reno. Former James Bond villains Sean Bean (Goldeneye), Jonathan Pryce
(Tomorrow Never Dies) and Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker) also put in an appearance.
DeNiro
is surprisingly low key as a weapons expert whose part of a team hired to retrieve
an all important aluminum case. As expected, the highlights of the film are the
breathtaking car chases, even though they greatly resemble the sequences in two
William Friedken pictures, The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A. It
should also be noted that Frankenheimer directed The French Connection II. Apparently
the Ronin crew demolished nearly eighty cars to capture the footage.
Surprisingly
what Ronin lacks, car chases aside, is tension. You would think the undisclosed
contents of the aluminum case would make for great mystery. The technique Frankenheimer
uses is one made famous by Alfred Hitchcock and was much more effective in Pulp
Fiction. With Ronin, it got to a point where I didn't care what was in the case.
Ronin
boasts impressive cinematography and great stunt coordination. The acting is competent
but not overwhelming. I must say, I expected much more from the heavy duty cast.
At times, DeNiro just isn't given that much to do. His similar character in Heat
was far superior.
When
all is said and done, Ronin is Frankenheimer's show, and when he's letting the
cars chase and the bullets fly, it's exciting entertainment. Otherwise, this is
just a passable thriller.
