Plot
John Frankenheimer directed this $20 million international action thriller from a screenplay by Richard Weisz (pseudonym for David Mamet) and J.D. Zeik. In Paris, Irish organizer Deidre (Natascha McElhone) assembles a team to grab a mysterious briefcase from criminals. They are never told who hired them or the true identity of their targets. The hired specialists: Former CIA officer Sam (Robert De Niro), former Euro intelligence agent Vincent (Jean Reno), German electronics expert Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), driver Larry (Skip Sudduth), and British weapons wrangler Spence (Sean Bean). After a Seine shootout, the action moves to the South of France, with a recon mission in Cannes, and a chase that brings everyone to Nice. Inevitable betrayals ensue, along with more pursuits. ~ Bhob Stewart, RoviReview
Any directorial career that includes both Seconds (1966) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) features more ups and downs than most, and with Ronin, John Frankenheimer announced a comeback. Exploring the territory of international espionage, it compensates for the familiarity of its material by doing just about everything right. A gripping, deliberately paced opening sequence perfectly sets the mood, capturing the uneasy peace of post-Cold War Europe with creepy effectiveness. The rest of the film runs with the notion, developing its vivid, weary characters and terse dialogue between well-staged action sequences. Frankenheimer films car chases as if he'd just invented the concept and David Mamet's pseudonymous script blows his gift for portraying con artistry up to an international scale. A memorable, thoughtful thriller cast to perfection and shot through with the chill of political unease and the knowledge of how easy it is to bargain away one's soul, it provided a late-career peak for a director who had something to prove. ~ Keith Phipps, RoviCast
- Robert De Niro - Sam
- Jean Reno - Vincent
- Natascha McElhone - Deirdre
- Stellan Skarsgård - Gregor
- Sean Bean - Spence
Credit
Gerard Viard - Art Director, Ethel Winant - Associate Producer, Margot Capelier - Casting, Cathy Sandrich - Casting, Amanda Mackey-Johnson - Casting, May Routh - Costume Designer, Michel Cheyko - First Assistant Director, John Frankenheimer - Director, Antony Gibbs - Editor, Paul Kelmenson - Executive Producer, Elia Cmiral - Composer (Music Score), Michael Z. Hanan - Production Designer, Robert Fraisse - Cinematographer, Frank Mancuso, Jr. - Producer, Robert Le Corre - Set Designer, Bernard Bats - Sound/Sound Designer, Mike LeMare - Sound/Sound Designer, J.D. Zeik - Screen Story, Richard Weisz - Screenwriter, J.D. Zeik - Screenwriter| Roni Ben-Hur: Chordability (2011 Film), Rongu Ran (1982 Film) | |
| Ronin Riders Stunt Team: Jerzey Fabulous (Film), Ronin-Gai (1990 Film) |
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