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Robert De Niro stars as an American intelligence operative adrift in irrelevance since the end of the Cold War--much like a masterless samurai, a.k.a. "ronin." With his services for sale, he joins a renegade, international team of fellow covert warriors with nothing but time on their hands. Their mission, as defined by the woman who hires them (Natascha McElhone), is to get hold of a particular suitcase that is equally coveted by the Russian mafia and Irish terrorists. As the scheme gets underway, De Niro's lone wolf strikes up a rare friendship with his French counterpart (Jean Reno), gets into a more-or-less romantic frame of mind with McElhone, and asserts his experience on the planning and execution of the job--going so far as to publicly humiliate one team member (Sean Bean) who is clearly out of his league. The story is largely unremarkable--there's an obligatory twist midway through that changes the nature of the team's business--but legendary filmmaker John Frankenheimer (Seconds, The Manchurian Candidate) leaps at the material, bringing to it an honest tension and seasoned, breathtaking skill with precision-action direction. The centerpiece of the movie is an honest-to-God car chase that is the real thing: not the how-can-we-top-the-last-stunt cartoon nonsense of Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon), but a pulse-quickening, kinetic dance of superb montage and timing. In a sense, Ronin is almost Frankenheimer's self-quoting version of a John Frankenheimer film. There isn't anything here he hasn't done before, but it's sure great to see it all again. --Tom Keogh
Special Features
On The DVD
The two-disc set has substantial additional features, most of which emphasize the film's extraordinary car chase sequences. In his commentary, director John Frankenheimer delights in the stunts ("Now that's the best four-wheel drift I think I've ever seen!") but also explores the difficulty of effective time transitions in a thriller. He also discusses his love of Paris, and how the city presents challenges to location filmmaking that aren't encountered in U.S. productions. The segments "The Driving of Ronin" and "Ronin: Filming in the Fast Lane" also focus on cars, Paris, and cars in Paris; the interview with stunt-car coordinator Jean-Claude Lagniez is especially enlightening.
The two-disc set has substantial additional features, most of which emphasize the film's extraordinary car chase sequences. In his commentary, director John Frankenheimer delights in the stunts ("Now that's the best four-wheel drift I think I've ever seen!") but also explores the difficulty of effective time transitions in a thriller. He also discusses his love of Paris, and how the city presents challenges to location filmmaking that aren't encountered in U.S. productions. The segments "The Driving of Ronin" and "Ronin: Filming in the Fast Lane" also focus on cars, Paris, and cars in Paris; the interview with stunt-car coordinator Jean-Claude Lagniez is especially enlightening.
Robert De Niro, Natascha McElhone, and Jean Reno discuss their characters in Venice Film Festival interviews; De Niro is characteristically taciturn, McElhone articulate and lovely, and Reno charmingly expansive about his character Vincent. ("Is he tough? Yeh, he knows his guns.") McElhone also gets her own separate interview, in which she discusses her concern at being thrown into the opening scenes as a novice among old pros--a situation shared by her character in the film.
Segments with the director of photography, editor, and composer are also included, but Elia Cmiral's use of the haunting duduk theme deserves more exploration than it gets here. There is also a thrown-together photo gallery and a brief, bleak alternate ending. --Michael Smith
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. Nykiel
Format:Blu-ray
Hello, I purchased this version of Ronin on Blu-ray expecting more then the standard DVD have, unfurtunatlly I was incorrect in doing so. The movie by it self it's amazing however the Blu-ray of it it's just not good for it at all. Single-layer BD-25 with a 1080p/MPEG-2 codec that does little to spruce up the image. With no supplements or even what the standard DVD have. Simply in a nutshell don't buy this Blu-ray version of Ronin.
The company should be a shame to release such a great movie like Ronin with this poor quality and cheap, and only money grab version of Blu-ray ..
The company should be a shame to release such a great movie like Ronin with this poor quality and cheap, and only money grab version of Blu-ray ..
By BobbyT
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Top notch acting especially from DeNiro (no surprise) and Jean Reno. Plenty of well done action and great locations. Can't miss spending the time to watch this one.
By Jenny J.J.I.
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
"Ronin" is wildly entertaining and highly crafted. Some think De Niro was in a 'trough' when he made this film; instead, I feel he is -- quite simply -- exceptional and REAL, as always DeNiro is doing nothing he hasn't done a 1,000 times before in this role but it's precisely *because* he does such characters all the time that he's so good at it. Jean Reno is equally capable of matching De Niro on screen and they form a nice relationship that doesn't grate. The other actors are all acceptable although not outstanding.
The plot is decent, but not dripping with originality. Look it's a terrorist organization. And look it's the IRA again and the Northern Ireland situation depicted with all the lack-of-knowledge Hollywood is so good at. The double crossing is amusing and makes sense - these characters aren't exactly on the side of angels are they? The action sequences are great fun too and, it must be admitted, feature the best car chases of any movie I've seen from the 90s. Which is saying something. On a down side to the plot it gets a tad ridiculous when, over the course of the movie, approximately half of France's population gets wiped out in the various car chases and gun battles... it's a tad over the top (though adrenalin pumping)
John Frankenheimer directing was very competent. The chase scenes are done particularly well with the cameras mounted to the front of the car to give you the feeling of speed. It's what helps lift this movie up that bit more from the other dross. Other than that I'd recommend this movie, especially for fans of the heist genres or those who like car chases. You won't be bored ever and will spend an enjoyable couple of hours viewing it.
The plot is decent, but not dripping with originality. Look it's a terrorist organization. And look it's the IRA again and the Northern Ireland situation depicted with all the lack-of-knowledge Hollywood is so good at. The double crossing is amusing and makes sense - these characters aren't exactly on the side of angels are they? The action sequences are great fun too and, it must be admitted, feature the best car chases of any movie I've seen from the 90s. Which is saying something. On a down side to the plot it gets a tad ridiculous when, over the course of the movie, approximately half of France's population gets wiped out in the various car chases and gun battles... it's a tad over the top (though adrenalin pumping)
John Frankenheimer directing was very competent. The chase scenes are done particularly well with the cameras mounted to the front of the car to give you the feeling of speed. It's what helps lift this movie up that bit more from the other dross. Other than that I'd recommend this movie, especially for fans of the heist genres or those who like car chases. You won't be bored ever and will spend an enjoyable couple of hours viewing it.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Action At Its Finest
Ronin is my favorite action/drama film and I view it about 3-4 times a year on average.
The sets and natural European landscapes, along with the excellent choice of... Read more
The sets and natural European landscapes, along with the excellent choice of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Miracle Max
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid release... but wish there were more...
After a long wait, Ronin is FINALLY here on Blu-ray. Was it worth the wait? If you're a fan of the film, yes. Read more
Published on Mar 14 2009 by Michael Olshansky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everything you could ask for in an intelligent action thriller
I have no idea why I had never heard of this movie before because Ronin is a whale of a good film. I can take or leave most action films, but give me a taut, intelligent,... Read more
Published on Sep 13 2006 by Daniel Jolley
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Underrated Movie
Bobby DeNiro, enough said. This a great, yet underrated heist movie with one heck of a char chase scene.
Published on Feb 27 2006 by Keith Friesen
3.0 out of 5 stars
meh
this was kind of dissapointing, but i had pretty high expectations. it didn't really do anything wrong, but dispite a lot of action, it wasn't the most interesting movie.
Published on July 12 2004 by "thmnshw4"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gorilla of a Thrilla'
Spy flick, GREAT CAR CHASE... I think Car and Driver rated the chase scene as an all time best.
Published on Jun 5 2004 by Jorge Barbarosa
5.0 out of 5 stars
On solitude, camaraderie, and good moviemaking.
A mystery man summons a group of mercenaries, mostly has-beens of the grand spy game. What follows? Naturally: lead is flying, the tires are burned by former Formula 1 drivers, and... Read more
Published on April 15 2004 by "barocco44"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life at the Red Line
Forget about deep philosophical elaborations: this movie is mostly about car chases. This is not a criticism, because these are the best car chases in any movie. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2004 by Filippo Neri
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Warrior Code.
There's a centuries-old unwritten code shared by all members of the "warrior" class; soldiers, policemen, secret service operatives and other members of security forces old and new... Read more
Published on Feb 22 2004 by Themis-Athena
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scenic intelligent action movie--very underrated
This is one of the smartest, most exciting action movies I've seen in years. The car chases are amazing, the plot is very interesting, and the acting is first-rate. Read more
Published on Feb 5 2004
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