Ronin [Blu-ray]

Director: John Frankenheimer John Frankenheimer

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/24/2009
UPC:	0027616077653
Original Release:	1998
Rating:	R
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	2:01:00
Sales rank:	3,205

Special Features

CC

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert De Niro	Sam
Jean Reno	Vincent
Natascha McElhone	Deirdre
Sean Bean	Spence
Skipp Sudduth	Larry
Jan Triska	Dapper Gent
Jonathan Pryce	Seamus
Katarina Witt	Natacha Kirilova
Bernard Bloch	Sergi
Ron Perkins	The Man with the Newspaper
Dominic Gugliametti	Clown Iceskater
Alan Beckworth	Clown Iceskater
Daniel Breton	Sergi's Accomplice
Tolsty	The `Boss'
Lionel Vitrant	The `Target'
Vincent Schmitt	Arles Messenger
Leopoldine Serre	Arles Little Girl
Lou Maraval	Arles Little Girl,Girl Hostage
Frederic Schmalzbauer	German Tour Guide,German Tour Guide
Laurent Spielvogel	Tourist in Nice
Ron Hiatt	Fishmonger
Steve Suissa	Waiter in Nice
Katia Tchenko	Woman Hostage
Dyna Gauzy	Little Screaming Girl
Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux	Little Girl
Amanda Spencer	Little Girl
Dimitri Rafalsky	Russian Interpreter
Vladimir Tchernine	Russian Mechanic
Gerard Touratier	Ice Rink Security Guard
Cyril Prenout	Mikhi's Bodyguard
Henry Moati	Bartender
Christophe Maratier	Armed Police Officer
Pierre Forest	C.R.S. Captain
Stellan Skarsgård	Gregor
Michael Lonsdale	Actor,Jean-Pierre
Jan Tríska	Actor
Jan T¿íska	Dapper Gent
Féodor Atkine	Mikhi
Gérard Moulévrier	Tour Guide
Ron Jeremy	Fishmonger
Cyril Prentout	Mikhi's Bodyguard
Nader Boussandel	Weapon seller
Hélène Cardona	Voices
Chuck Riley	Voices
Veronique Meyere	Natacha Kirilova's Assistant
Amidou	Man at Exchange
Elia Cmiral	Composer

Technical Credits

J.D. Zeik

David Mamet

John Frankenheimer	Director
J.D. Zeik	Screenwriter
David Mamet	Screenwriter
Frank Mancuso Jr.	Producer
Paul Kelmenson	Executive Producer,Producer
Margot Capelier	Casting
Georges Demetrau	Special Effects
Joe Dunne	Stunts
Cathy Sandrich Gelfond	Casting
Amanda Mackey Johnson	Casting
Sue Jones	Casting
Mark Breakspear	Special Effects
Rick Alexander	Sound Effects
Gregg Barbanell	Sound Effects
Bernard Bats	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Joe Bosco	Sound Effects
Georges Demétrau	Special Effects
Jean-Louis Airola	Stunts
Jim Albert	Sound Effects
Cathy Sandrich	Casting
Mike LeMare	Sound/Sound Designer
Frank Mancuso	Producer

Editorial Reviews

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.

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