Ronin

Starring: Robert DeNiro
Director: John Frankenheimer
Genre: Action / Thriller
Year: 1998
Rating: 4 / 5

Ronin, the latest offering from directorial legend John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate), delivers precisely on its promise, which is both its greatest attribute and, at the same time, all that keeps this film from being truly great. This action-packed thriller, starring Robert DeNiro as the de facto leader of a mercenary group, is about a race among nations to retrieve a suitcase of unknown contents. The crack team hops about France, battling competing organizations and betrayal from within, all in hopes of securing this most valued prize.

DeNiro is Sam, an American with a known CIA past, who is either running from something or has nowhere else to go. His team is one of varying nationalities and talents: French munitions expert Vincent (Jean Reno), ex-KGB computer specialist Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), Irish tough guy Spence (Sean Bean), and American driver Larry (Skipp Skudduth). This group has been assembled by a mysterious individual through the enchanting Dierdre (Natascha McElhone). They are only told of the existence of the aforementioned case, financial figures are exchanged, and the chase begins.

Leaning on his wealth of knowledge, the group looks to Sam for guidance, as the situation becomes murkier and murkier. The contents of the case are withheld from the group, as is the true strength of the competing factions. What develops, however, is a brilliant plan, calling upon the expertise of all of the participants, to retrieve the suitcase. An elaborate trap is set up, involving an exciting car chase and an impressive ambush sequence, all leading to an all-too-brief possession of the case. Deception immediately sets in, though I would not think of revealing the particulars, and it is up to Sam to determine who he can trust, and who is working for who.

The movie sprints along up through this powerful sequence, but the remaining pace of the movie, while adequete, never reaches the same zenith of thrills. While Ronin does possess the obligatory twists expected of any modern thriller, most are not overly difficult to spot. The true viewing pleasure comes from the execution of group's plans, as well as the slow unfolding of the deception we are all aware of. DeNiro excels, as we have come to expect over the last twenty-five years, and Reno is quite a pleasant surprise in his typecast role as the supporting Frenchman. Ronin is an entertaining ride, complete with some well-shot action sequences, that is sure to leave the viewer gasping for breath.

Cast:

Robert DeNiro..........	Sam
Jean Reno..........	Vincent
Jonathan Pryce..........	Seamus
Natascha McElhone..........	Dierdre
Stellan Skarsgard..........	Gregor
Sean Bean..........	Spence

Certification: Rated R for violence.
Running Time: 118 minutes.

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