Spy Game (Full Screen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Great Buddy Spy Movie
Review: In "Spy Games" Robert Redford plays retiring CIA agent Nathan Muir, who is interveiwed on his last day becuase his recruit Tom Biship (Brad Pitt) has been arrested in China. This is really a very intellegent spy thriller. It dose have the usual cleches that you might expect, but it also has a believable heart and very likable chimistry between the two stars. The film is told mostly in flashback, from Muir's recruiting Biship after Vietnam (dosn't Pitt seem a little young to have been there?), their first mission in Communist East Germany, and the long mission in Beruit that finally broke up the team. It is also framed by a countdown to Biship's execution in 24 hours. The movies strengths are in watching Redford manipulate the other questioners into giving him the information he needs to help Biship. The movie is directed by Tony Scott with lots of gusto; one can not accuse him of being lazy! It is an intertaining way to kill a couple of hours, if you're not in the mood for James Bond.

Rating:
Summary: Redford as foxy old dog fun to see
Review: I liked this movie more after watching it multiple times (I'd say this is the fourth time or so I've seen it). It's not the kind of movie you necessarily enjoy watching over and over, but it is nice to watch after you've already unraveled the sometimes-confusing plot so that you can enjoy the show. The movie follows two storylines, the first a flashback involving the relationship of CIA Field Manager Redford and his recruit-turned-protégé Pitt. The current storyline involves Redford's efforts to save Pitt from the depths of a Chinese prison while the rest of the CIA is working to bury him.
Redford's character is pretty cool, with the street-smarts of a Harry Bosch combined with a slick comfort in the presence of administrators that Bosch could never muster. He is basically trying to redeem himself for a lifetime of morally ambiguous CIA dealings by putting his career and even freedom on the line on Pitt's behalf.
The camera cuts are gritty and fast-paced, without being so MTV'ed out that they distract from the story. The story is simple and intriguing, with the most pleasure coming from Redford's little tricks that, on the one hand, are so old fashioned that they wouldn't seem out of place in a quaint gumshoe noir, but on the other hand are just clever enough to be believable in foiling the CIA.
The movie bogs down in some of the flashbacks in my opinion (Kim didn't seem to mind as long as Brad Pitt was onscreen), and the cuts from present to past and back again get slightly confusing if you're not paying close attention.


Rating:
Summary: Hell of an ad for the Boy Scouts.
Review: I must admit, Tony Scott is one of the greatest action directors the film world has to offer. He not only has the ability to push his actors, but also create these amazing visuals that transport us deep into the setting of the film. He has mastered the cinematography of nearly every picture he has done, giving us these beautiful shots of the world that we may never see in our lifetime. Several of his films enhance my DVD collection like Crimson Tide and True Romance, but sadly Spy Game will not. While Scott does wonders with the actors, scenes, and camera angles, it is the story that is ultimately flaws this film. The lack of coherence, consistency, and structure take this Tony Scott film and transform it into just your average Hollywood spy film. It had the potential to reach new levels, and there were several scenes that I loved, but I just couldn't believe the story. Let me explain.

My biggest issue with this film was the lack of aging from our two main characters. This film spans a timeframe of about sixteen years, and throughout the course of that time neither Pitt nor Redford age. Director Scott chose not to use CGI or younger actors for the parts when they were in Vietnam, so as the time progressed in the film, our main actors did not. This was a huge hurdle to overcome since I wanted to enjoy this film. I did not see the mission where the discovered the fountain of youth, so I can only assume that this was some bad judgment on Scott's part. Redford and Pitt should have aged more than what they did in this film allowing us to see the emotion and sheer force behind their eyes.

Outside of this point it was your average Hollywood action film. Large explosions and violence countered with a sneaky Sneakers-esque style subplot overshadowed the plot. Pitt was nothing more than the muscle of the operation, and Scott gave us nothing to build more upon his character. I fault the writer of this film. I believe that the homework was done correctly, just not structured correctly. Perhaps it was just me, but I had trouble following some of the missions. I realize they were necessary, and possibly not rocket science, but the scene with Charlotte Rampling made no sense. Maybe I missed a part that was crucial in some way, but overall it just seemed like there was more jumping and fighting than actual plot. I felt as if the love interest was randomly placed through the film. I realize that Pitt was not one to follow simple commands, but I felt early on in this film that he would have the ability to walk away from a woman if needed. Spy Game suddenly went from smart espionage film to "master has to fix newbie's mistake". This felt strange to me because throughout the film Redford continued to speak about having the upper hand, and not straying from the point. Yet, when Redford was faced to save his friend, he did just that. Was he learning from his pupil? If so, it was not very well spelled out and a very weak point.

Outside of the story, director Tony Scott gives yet another beautiful film. The cinematography is outstanding. I loved the way that he kept us, the audience, in suspense as to what time it was and how much time they had to save Pitt's character. The black and white flashes followed by the time were inventive and it seemed to work. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Scott controlled this film and it was a pleasure to see that. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the master of the action genre and that more scripts should be coming his way. I hope they are more inventive than this outing and have at least a bit more meat on their bones.

Overall, I thought this was an average film. I am disappointed because there are better than average films that Tony Scott has released, I am ashamed to ask why this film was not one of them. Pitt was solely used for the purpose of his strength (and to capture the attention of a younger female audience) while Redford was used mainly for his dashing good looks (and to capture the attention of the older female audience). Once you realize this point than this film will fall into place. I don't think it deserves more than one viewing, but the cinematography alone was powerful enough to watch once.

Grade: *** out of *****

Rating:
Summary: Watchable.
Review: Watchable and at times entertaining, but instantly forgettable and with some glaring plot holes and inconsistencies that really annoy the viewer - e.g., Brad Pitt and Robert Redford are implied to be of the same age!! Also, there is no attempt to change either actors' features from the flash-back to 1975 to the present-time in the movie (1991). Neither of them are supposed to have aged at all in 16 years!! I think this movie would have been better, too, if it had spent more time in the 1991 scenario rather than disappearing down so many dark corners comprised of flash-back scenes.


Rating:
Summary: Solid, gritty espionage.
Review: Despite numerous flaws, Spy Game is a thrilling picture. It also happens to be the most realistic (realistic being a relative term... this is still a Hollywood movie) portrayal of espionage to be put on film; this as close to the real deal as Hollywood has ever gotten, folks.

The screenplay, written by Michael Frost Beckner and David Arata, is a solid effort, if somewhat forgettable. It unfortunately suffers from a few cliches throughout (the aging, retiring mentor syndrome, a melodramatic love affair) but makes up for its off-beat moments with occasionally razor-sharp dialogue and moments of genuine tension. Tony Scott directs, showing remarkable restraint in his usual pension for ultra-flashy camera techniques. Spy Game still has its fair share of camera kinetics, and Scott directs the action scenes with the high-movement and quick editing he's known for. Harry Gregson-Williams provides the film's both intense and subtle score, an electro-symphony mix with flourishes of choral work that's as effective and functional as the film.

Acting wise, Robert Redford plays the same role he's played many times before, and honestly, seems to be almost neutral the whole picture. While utterly convincing, he hardly pushes himself here. No, this is more of a vehicle for Brad Pitt and his rising talent, and while Pitt does well, it is the supporting cast that carries the film.

Spy Game will never win any awards. Still, the film deserves more attention than it's gotten, and is definitely worth a look, and espionage fans should definitely make an effort to see the film. It's a well-made, well-acted picture with some real suspense and tension.

Rating:
Summary: hey what the hell tony scott????
Review: I think Tony Scott is secretly a woman and you can tell whenever it's his time of the month because it's his time of the month when his movies suck. That's the only thing that would explain how he can make movies so amazingly good as The Last Boy Scout, Top Gun and especially Crimson Tide, and then turn around and make movies as horrifically bad as this and True Romance.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Redford
Review: The action centers around a CIA spy drama in the truest sense of the word. In a half-narrative half flashback mix, Redford explains the circumstances leading up to the capture of Pitt in communist China. The dialog is intellegent, the scenes move quickly, and the back-and-forth of the story is put together in such a way to constantly leave you wondering, "Then what happened?", without leaving you clueless.

The building of anticipation right up to the end explains why the viewer will be so quickly drawn in. (Only the rare historian will be dissapointed by a lack of unnecassary historical specifics -- These scenes are full without them). Credit also goes to the director for drawing out the empathy for the leads from the audience as well.

For the story, its as classic as Redford himself.
Robert Redford plays a role that can truly take you back to his early work, such as a warden in "Brubaker", with a star performance as a CIA operative fighting time as he approaches retirement. Redfords character ultimately has to re-evaluate a principle he had based his entire life and career on.

Pitt also puts forth an outstanding performance, however his character is primarily a tool for the development of Redford's.

Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: I SPY U SPY
Review: Tony Scott's intricately plotted spy drama ironically places two of our blond matinee idols in jeopardy. A leathery-faced Robert Redford with the fresh blossom of youth in Brad Pitt. Both actors do well in their roles, with Redford coming out on top as his role demands a little more. Scott is good in keeping the pace quick even though there are several moments that you wonder if he can keep it up. Pitt plays a CIA operative captured on a botched mission and scheduled to be executed by the Chinese. Of course, the CIA will allow this because Pitt was on a rogue unauthorized mission, and they don't want to ruin their trade relationship with China. Redford does everything he can in a 24 hour period to ensure Pitt's safety.
The movie has a fine supporting cast including Marie-Jean Baptiste as Redford's secretary; Larry Bryggman (soap opera's AS THE WORLD TURNS); Catherine McCormack as Pitt's love interest, and Stephen Dillane as Harker, the self-assured, egotistical fellow agent.

David Hemmings and Charlotte Rampling have cameos.
All in all, entertaining, if a little hard to follow sometimes.