In 1998, Director John Frankenheimer hadn't had a hit at the box office in 21 years, since 1977's terrific "Black Sunday". While he didn't find box office success with RONIN, he did create a modern action classic that's become a perennial favorite for movie lovers.
Robert DeNiro leads an all-star cast as Sam, an American agent that finds himself in the middle of double and triple crosses in search of a mysterious package.
Luckily for us, the international team he surrounds himself is filled with great actors and worthy stars. Jean Reno (The Professional), Natascha McElhrone (the first lady on Designated Survivor), Stellan Skarsgard (The Avengers, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Sean Bean (Goldeneye, Game of Thrones) and Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker, Munich) all play key roles in this fast paced, action-filled thriller.
The package is what Hitchcock used to call a Mcguffin, a plot device that serves as everyone's motivation even though we never know what's inside.
Frankenheimer and his stunt team are at their best with RONIN, creating major action scenes on a huge scale. The center of the film is a long, amazing car chase that takes place with long, great camera shots. You see the full size stunts, the action and the actual cars facing off over a long and exciting scene.
It's the exact opposite of the quick-cutting, thousand shots a minute crap editing that renders later action films like 'Quantum of Solace" incomprehensible to follow.
It's an old school thriller with a great cast, led by DeNiro in a strong performance. He also shows surprising speed and agility as an action star.
The film starts off by explaining that RONIN is the Japanese word for a Samurai without a master.
You'll have a great time watching these warring Samurais from many countries battling each other and their own greed in quest of the package.
Beautifully shot in Paris and throughout Europe, RONIN doesn't give you a moment to breathe on its twisted, screaming ride through many twisted roads. For that alone, it gets a bullet riddled B.
