JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonRonin (1998) - Car Chase Included
February 21st 2007 00:00
Ronin
DVD Cover
Writer:J D Zeik and David Mamet
Starring:Jean Reno, Robert De Niro, Stellan Skarsgard, Sean Bean, Natascha McElhone, Jonathon Pryce, Michael Lonsdale
“Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. That's the first thing they teach you.” - Sam
Ronin is a pulsing espionage thriller that’s deadly serious tone, ice cool cast and believable tough guy dialogue observes the ruthless world of government trained mercenaries for hire.
Without a warlord these masterless warriors go where the bucks are. Starting in Paris, mystery and danger are bled into the atmosphere as a crew is formed. Paid by Deirdre (Natascha McElhone), the experts at subversion and death are told only what they need to know.
“Of course I'm scared! You think I'm reluctant because I'm happy?”–Sam
The first step is getting weapons and when the shit goes down we quickly learn that this is not a game. Sam (Robert De Niro) is the obvious leader in the heat of battle and his cold detachment and knowledge averts loss of life.
“I never walk into a place I don’t know how to walk out of” - Sam
Immediately establishing each member’s strength or weakness fellow hard man Vincent (Jean Reno) sees the American as a man he can learn from. Reluctantly as the risks get higher, nothing is as it seems most of all, the job.
“Talk about a fuckin ambush, I ambushed you with a cup of coffee” –Sam
Committed only to survival and success of the mission. Theres is a lonely life, full of betrayal and an essential need to remain observant of surroundings, meaning dedication is an emotionally distant existence.
“No questions. No answers. That's the business we're in. You just accept it and move on. Maybe that's lesson number three.” – Vincent
John Doe says:
Dark, carefully constructed and diligently realistic, in-the-moment Director John Frankenheimer (The Train, The Iceman Cometh, Birdman of Alcatraz, Seconds, 7 Days in May, French Connection II) burst back onto the scene with Ronin. Taking what he learned about framing action from making Grand Prix and colliding with the smarts and tension refined in his masterpiece of paranoia The Manchurian Candidate.
Violent and confronting, Opting for the classic European settings, the film jet sets from location to location, building a French Connection style authenticity. The visceral cinematography covers every imaginable angle without sacrificing the editing and pacing.
Featuring the greatest auto pursuit in modern cinema, every time a car engine is turned on the heart rate quickens, the feeling of movement is dizzying. The stunts are all done at actual speed. Majestic helicopter shots track movement through the narrow city streets in Niece and over picturesque mountain landscapes.
The script written by J D Zeik (Witchblade) and David Mamet (House of Games, Spanish Prisoner, State and Main) is observant and unashamedly intelligent, quotable lines roll out like bullets in a glock 9. Treating the audience with respect, the smoke and mirrors are always blurring our understanding of the plot; in effect we are like the characters, clinging to whatever stable fact we can. There are enough clues to put it all together in the end, just don’t expect a neat bow, ambiguity comes with the world of spies and counter intelligence.
Robert De Niro (The Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, King of Comedy, Angel Heart, Godfather II, Once Upon A time In America, Goodfellas) has become quite dull to watch in recent years, relaxing into imitations of earlier characters. Ronin is a return to form, playing silent vulnerability that is unseen in most of his parts.
Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional, The Big Blue, Crimson Rivers, La Femme Nikita) brings a charm to hired killers that is seldom witnessed without losing the edginess of the character. You believe he is a capable assassin but also know that he has a heart.
Natascha McElhorne (Solaris, City Of Ghosts, The Truman Show) and Stellan Skarsgard (Insomnia, Zero Kelvin, City Of Ghosts) are both personal faves of John Doe, largely due to their job in this.
In a time where mindless action films are an excuse to switch of the brain and watch pretty pictures, Ronin was like a minor revolution in JD's life. Reminding him what a truly engrossing and exciting genre it can be when all the different disciplines of filmmaking synchronise.
A great test for your home cinema equipment the sound design is exceptional, assaulting you with a mix of bullets, engines and loaded speech.
The DVD:
Transfer: 2:35:1 Widescreen/ Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: Informative and entertaining Featurette “Filming in the Fast Lane”, a compelling John Frankenheimer Commentary and an alternate ending.
Strap yourself in, here is the “going against the flow of traffic through a tunnel chase.
Here is a taste of the dense moodiness that encases the action gem.
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
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Comment by Bryn
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Dont you remember I did a post on the greatest chases back a few months ago. Click here if you want to check it out.
In that you will find William Friedkin's To Live and Die In LA and The French Connection....Bullitt is actually my favourite of all...though Rendevouz is the shit too...
Bourne qualifies, but I think the chase is a little too Italian Job lite for my taste...maybe its just the mini cooper.....at least it doesn't use CG for the stunts driving which is always a plus.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Mmmmm, I love the mysterious suitcases. Check out Kiss Me Deadly to see an original gem of the "whats in the box scenario?"
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Rendezvous may not be a feature film but i do think it qualifies as the most visceral car action ever caught on celluloid.
Hi Cib,
Its stands tall above other modern enteries in the genre like Bourne Identity...the only other espionage thriller to come close in the last decade is The Assignmentstarring Ben Kingsley, Donald Sutherland and Aidan Quinn
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile