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Summary: i don't like entering titles.
Review: I thought this movie was terrific. I love anything vaugely Cold War-ish, aside from James Bond garbage. The movie provides a great insight to the world of "spy craft", which is always a thrill, none of that James Bond jumping off bridges garbage. Brad Pitt and that other guy, Rob Redford each give stellar performances, and the movie even includes Pitts obligatory bare chested underwear shot. My only complaint is that the movie drug on at times, making it seem like an eternity long, and I kept spilling my Nerds candy. Go see this movie, if you dont like "Who is Corky Romano", you might enjoy it.
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Summary: Intriguing look into world of intelligence
Review: In a nutshell, Robert Redford is a seasoned veteran in the world of espionage who is about to retire. He then receives word that a protege of his, played by Brad Pitt, has been arrested and charged with spying in China. The Chinese have then set his execution date for the next day. Redford of course must then find a way to save his friend, who is thousands of miles away. Much of the movie takes place within CIA headquarters and thus the movie plays more like suspense than action. It's a nice thinking man's(or woman's) movie. Redford of course, has muliple problems as his superiors are at odds with him and want to distance themselves with Pitt b/c of important trade talks with China. Pitt's character is introduced through a series of flashbacks w/Redford in Southeast Asia, East Germany, and Lebanon. Their relationship is the usual student-teacher one. Redford shows him the ropes, they pat each other on the back, and of course get into fights. Another part of the movie that's fun is seeing Redford use his sneaky spy tricks within the CIA itself to outsmart his superiors.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story
Review: Spy Game's story is presented in such an interesting manner. I must admit I'm partial to these types of movies, but the editing and shots in this film are great. The camera angles and shot of Redford and Pitt on the roof top are super. I would definitely recommend this one.
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Summary: Solid Acting, Shooting, Story
Review: I enjoyed this movie. It weaves a plot that loops back again and again with flashbacks, gradually revealing more and more key elements of the story. But this weaving works, keeping you interested and entertained. You start out seeing Brad Pitt engaged in some kind of operation in a Chinese prison. But you don't know who he is or who he is saving. Then you meet Robert Redford, get to know him and the relationship he had with Pitt. Gradually, the story unfolds their past together and, finally, what actually happened at the beginning of the story. Unlike most spy movies, the real enemy turns out to be a surprise, well, not that surprising. But it's another interesting twist the writers do a nice job of exploring. The spy game covers lots of bases, moving from Vietnam to East Berlin to the Middle East to China.
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Summary: Enjoyable and intriguing fast paced story
Review: I suppose the moral of this story is: Nathan Muir steals Tom Bishop's innocence and then restores it. Tom is recruited by Muir to become a CIA operative. Through clever and intense flashbacks, we see what these two experienced during Tom's training and field operations. Pitt plays Tom Bishop as a man with a sense of right and wrong who discovers that there are no good guys in his battles. There are only loyalties, and there are far too many sacrifices to the grand plan that we see in this film (as in real life) is starting to crumble. Then, Tom meets a lovely aid worker who happens to have quite a shady past. Again, more questions about who is right and wrong, who is good and who is evil. We are thrown into dramatic and violent situations, although I must say that unlike many Hollywood films, the violence is neither gratuitous nor here to shock and gross out. It depicts real world situations. Toss Brad Pitt into this, and the story changes for him. His character has questions. He has defeats. Maybe you see in his face that he has also had enough. Tom Bishop, though, is redeemed through his love for the aid worker. He risks his life on a failed mission to save her from prison in China. This is where the film begins and ends. On the opposite side of the world, Nathan Muir (Redford) is suddenly cast in the role of either being Pitt's savior or executioner. The CIA politics become intense, as on the surface Redford plays along but behind the scenes, he is manipulating every avenue he can think of to secure Pitt's freedom. If he does not, Pitt will be killed. We find out that Muir isn't perfect -- he is neither a good guy nor a bad guy himself. His philosophies are callous. He is very much the stereotypical spy -- manipulative, conniving, and cold-hearted. Redford performs his role, as does Pitt, with an understated perfection. These two men are an excellent team. There are no "movie star" qualities in their performances. You almost feel that you are watching a documentary, the acting is done so honestly. I must say that it is hard to forget one scene where Redford is very attractively dressed in a tuxedo. Or Pitt's face as he discovers he has betrayed a good friend, one of the few good guys in the film. If you are looking for a blood and guts, clear cut thriller that spoon feeds you the plotline (something along the lines of a shallow Tom Cruise film), don't bother with Spy Game. This film is for intelligent people who want to witness and outguess the cat and mouse game that nearly defeats Redford's character. And the love story is quite beautiful, couched as it is in a world at war.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Darn Good, Worth the Price of a Matinee!!
Review: I love movies, I love Redford and I love Pitt. I just usually don't like going to the theater (GASP!!!) But, I made an exception, braved the extra loud audio, tolerated the crowded and freezing movie hall, and held my bladder for however long and was rewarded with an altogether pleasing theatrical experience. True, Brad Pitt looked, as usual, as if he needed a hair cut. Yes, Robert Redford is showing his age more than a little bit. Absolutely, the story is a bit far fetched when you come right down to Operation 'Dinner Out'. But really, it is a movie!! The story was imaginative and fast paced, the characters were interesting and somewhat likable (or dislikable, as needed), the photography was really really GOOD (in bold please!!), there were plenty of gismos and gadgets, lots of things got blowed up, and there wasn't really much use of the "F" word (Pitt used it a few times for good measure). Just a fun little "Spy Story/Love Story". KAYCEYGIRL recommends you go to it at the Theater, it is that good.
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Summary: Never Underestimate the Power of a Star
Review: There are a handful of stars that most of us will watch, I mean literally watch with our eyes glued to the screen type of watching.....do anything: Drew Barrymore, Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and of course, Robert Redford to name several. Sometimes our eyes are rewarded with something rich and meaningful, sometimes not. "The Spy Game" has not only one of these types in it, but two: Redford and Pitt. And like the pairing of Newman and Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" some 25 years ago the pairng of these two strikes Gold in "The Spy Game." The big difference this time around for Redford is that he is playing the older and wiser character, Nathan Muir and Pitt is the young pup, Tom Bishop.
It's 1991 and it's Nathan's last day on the job as a C.I.A. operative and he learns that Tom, also a C.I.A operative and Nathan's protege, is being held in a Chinese prison awaiting execution some 24 hours hence. Nathan also learns that the C.I.A. disavows any connection to Tom and labels him a "rogue agent." Nathan, always the hero, sets upon a course that will hopefully save Tom.
Through numerous machinations and plot manuevers, some logical, some not the story is brought to a wham-bang conclusion.
Along the way the buddy-buddy, father-son, mentor-mentee relationship of Redford and Pitt is adorable and imminently watchable; while Stephen Dillane's performance as Charles Harker (Jonathan's great-grandson?) is approrpiately smarmy and greasy as Muir's primary nemesis.
Also on hand as Nathan's secretary is the redoubtable and trustworthy Marianne Jean Baptiste. When is someone going to realize what a fine actress Ms. Baptiste is and give her some of the parts that Angela Bassett is getting?
"The Spy Gane" won't win any awards but it's a tight, smart thriller ably directed by Tony Scott, late of "Top Gun" fame. Go see it with your pals, sneak in a bottle of 12 year old Balvernie Scotch and buy the mammoth tub of popcorn and a box full of Hot Dogs. You'll have a ball.
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Summary: Spy Game
Review: I am not the worlds biggest action thriller fan. I find that very often, the plot and characterisation cannot withstand the effects. THIS IS NOT TRUE OF THIS FILM. It is fantastic. It is edge-of-seat exciting all the way through with strong characterisation, a well crafted story and fabulous special effects. It is well worth seeing and I will certainly be going again. Redford and Pitt were both sensational... The only single thing I didn't like was the use of Brothers In Arms in the soundtrack. But honestly, that is the only negative thing I can think of to say about this film. If you want to treat yourself to a few hours of seriously exciting entertainment then GO AND SEE IT!!!!!!!!It's well worth it.
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Summary: A Clever,Sophisticated and Satisfying thriller!
Review: A great espionage thriller with kinetic energy and great acting. Right after the preceding scene showing Brad Pitt's spy character
Tom Bishop gets captured for espionage and thrown in a China prison sentenced to execution, it's up to CIA operative Nathan Muir(Robert Redford)to rescue him in less than 24 hours. The most part of the film takes place with Robert Redford's character sitting in the CIA agency's office telling a group of the CIA, stories of him and his protege in compelling flashbacks from Vietnam to Beirut displaying the friendship between Tom and Nathan as he trains him to be a spy. By the time Tom Bishop is on an assignment with Nathan to recruit a doctor in Beirut to poison a known terrorist his operation gets a little distraction when he meets a doctor(Catherine McCormack)who later gets kidnapped and ends up in a China prison which leads him to rescue her but fails when he gets captured by the guards which you see in the preceding scene which leads to Nathan to work around his bosses to secretly attempt to rescue Tom Bishop. Taut, compelling and convincing, Spy Game is a must-see though I admit it gets a little confusing in the plot...
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Summary: the time has come
Review: this film is very timely. the truth is that the underlying sequences of the film are a simple analogy to the covert operations that the FBI and not the CIA had conducted in the 80s. I know -- I was such an agent. The truth about the killings of one for the good of many is a veritable picture of those who chose to make lives more diffcult in the name of freedom.
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