Movie Guys: Have a taut, tense run-in with 'Ronin'

* Grades: Jeff A; Dave A-.

* Starring: Robert DeNiro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgard and Jonathan Pryce.

* Director: John Frankenheimer.

* Screenplay: J.D. Zeik and Richard Weisz.

* Rated: R for profanity and violence.

* Running time: 121 minutes.

* Playing at: Regal Cinema Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Village Square, UA Showcase mall, UA Green Valley, Rancho Santa Fe 16, Century Orleans 12, Cinedome 12 Henderson.

Synopsis:

Sam is an American who is hired, along with an international team of covert operatives, to steal a mysterious, well-protected briefcase. None of them knows the identity of their employer, the true motives of anyone else in the group, or the contents of the briefcase. The one thing that is clear is that some will die for it, and they all will kill for it.

Jeff:

What would the movie "Mission Impossible" look like if you took away all the spit and polish, the high-tech gadgets and the dashing good looks of Tom Cruise and modified the story into an intriguing and exciting tale? The result would be "Ronin." I know it's hard not to compare the two movies, especially since Jean Reno is in both films, but it's a warranted comparison.

"Ronin" is a term for a Samurai without a master in feudal Japan, who is forced into a life of crime to survive, or rents himself out as a sword-for-hire. The term applies to our main character, Sam (Robert DeNiro) and our collection of mobsters, who once worked for their respective governments as agents and are now served as leftovers from the Cold War, killing without reason or for patriotic duty -- just for the cash.

Dave:

Is there literally anything DeNiro can't do? He has played everything from a mobster to a police officer to the devil to Frankenstein's monster to larger-than-life people such as Jake La Motta and Al Capone. His impressive list of credits has continued to prove his value as one of the best American actors of our time. In "Ronin," we see a calm, cool and collected DeNiro whose character is as much a mystery as is the object of their mission: a concealed briefcase that has terrorist appeal.

Jeff:

The characters are basic outlines. In fact, there is very little dialogue in "Ronin." The actions and expressions through which the characters communicate to each other tell the whole story. "Ronin" is almost a silent film of sorts, relying on visual storytelling rather than on the spoken word. The briefcase's contents (a cinematic object that director Alfred Hitchcock would call a "McGuffin") is a brain-teasing mystery throughout the movie, and by the film's end, our curiosity was overwhelming.

Each mercenary team member is an expert in his field: an electronics surveillance expert; a weapons specialist; a driver; a location expert (Jean Reno); and Deirdre, an Irish nationalist in charge of the team (Natascha McElhone). All of them, including Sam, crisscross the French countryside in search of the case and its valuable contents. This is a gritty, no-nonsense thriller that plays as if we were watching a real-life surveillance film. People die instantly -- no Hollywood expositions or second chances. Boom! You're dead.

Dave:

And who better to direct such an international cast of rogue intelligence agents than legendary filmmaker John Frankenheimer ("The Manchurian Candidate")? His visual style has always complemented his storytelling, creating slick shots in a very raw manner. There are two occasions where Frankenheimer coordinates some of the most intense car chases in movie history. Oh sure, you might recall "Bullitt" or even "The French Connection," but Paris' bleak backdrop serves as a never-ending crash course to host "the mother of all car chases."

The film's suspense is mixed with intelligent dialogue provided by writers J.D. Zeik and Richard Weisz (a k a David Mamet). However, as Jeff pointed out, it is the action that carries your attention through this suspense thriller.

Jeff:

Frankenheimer is flawless. Please don't roll your eyes when we mention the incredible car chases in "Ronin." This isn't the "Blues Brothers" kind of car chase but, a "To Live and Die in L.A." kind of chase. We're talking 10-minute segments of high-speed driving -- going the wrong way on one-way streets and between the walls of the extremely narrow French alleys. The film editing by Tony Gibbs is superb and is a crucial factor within this seamless flow of action.

"Ronin" isn't without a main flaw: the unnecessary love story between DeNiro and McElhone, which seems to slow down the quick pace of the film. It in no way diminishes the intellectual drama and unparalleled action that unfolds in an exciting thriller, which explains the motives of the world's most deadly mercenaries and the price to pay for getting in their way.

MOVIE BUZZ

Beatty to swim in "Ocean":

Columnist Marilyn Beck reports that Warren Beatty will play an astronaut in the upcoming film "Ocean of Storms." Beatty will produce and star in the story of an aging astronaut who returns to the space program to recapture his former glory.

Duchnovy set to "Return":

"X-Files" star David Duchovny is in talks to star in MGM's "Return to Me." The project, formerly known as "Distance Calls," concerns a man who falls in love with the woman who is the recipient of his late wife's heart.

"Rush" to make a sequel:

The $33 million raked in over the weekend by New Line's "Rush Hour" was not only the most money ever made by a film during September, but August and October as well. Now, rumours are flying faster than Jackie Chan's feet that a sequel is already being considered. A possible plot has already been mentioned by the film's director, Brett Ratner, involving Tucker's character going to China, reversing the fish-out-of-water plot of the first film.

NAME THAT FLICK

"Also in this house dwells Pseudolus, slave to his son. Pseudolus is probably my favorite character in the piece, a role of enormous variety and nuance, and played by an actor of such versatility, such magnificence ... Let me put it this way: I play the part."

Congratulations to Chris Derringer, who was the first to call and correctly guess that the quote was spoken by Zero Mostel in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Way to go, Chris!

Now for this week -- Who said this and in what film: "Sure, I've heard of grits. I've just never actually seen a grit before"? Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

See you next week!

THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.

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