“Lady, I never walk into a place I don’t know how to walk out of.” —Sam
Today’s quick review: Ronin. To steal a valuable case from a crack security team, Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) hires a group of spies, soldiers, and criminals. The most skilled of the bunch turns out to be Sam (Robert De Niro), an enigmatic man with a cautious streak and undeniable talent. But Deirdre and her bosses are not the only party after the case, and Sam and his new team must improvise a way to both get the case and keep it.
Ronin is an action movie with a strong plot and fairly good action sequences. Robert De Niro stars as Sam, whose genial mannerisms mask a sharp mind and genuine experience. As he surveys the team he has joined, he stikes up a friendship with Vincent (Jean Reno), an easygoing and competent Frenchman. Their team also includes Spence (Sean Bean), an unruly ex-soldier, and Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), a quietly dangerous ex-KGB agent.
Ronin does three things well: interesting characters, brutal plot twists, and frantic action sequences. Sam and Vincent shine in spite of their limited personal details. Their warm personalities and grounded professionalism stand out both in the crime genre and among the characters in Ronin itself. This solid base lets Ronin indulge in drastic plot twists without losing its sense of direction.
The action in Ronin is fairly strong by crime movie standards. Though the film’s focus is on skill and preparation, Sam and his team often resort to flying bullets and explosive distractions to get what they want. Between the cat-and-mouse gunplay, the lengthy and impressive chase scenes, and the odd explosion, Ronin has the action to back up its unpredictable, well-paced plot.
Ronin’s main flaw is its lack of context. Ronin deliberately plays its cards close to its chest, with no last names, uncertain motives, and a mysterious case at the heart of it all. The film’s point about the anonymous, fleeting nature of the spy business is well taken, but Ronin sacrifices some clarity to make it. However, the damage of unconstrained ambiguity is offset by likable characters in Sam and Vincent, good action, and a worthy plot.
Watch Ronin when you are in the mood for a crime movie with a dose of action. Ronin does not succeed in the higher points it tries to make, and its ambiguity is often to its detriment. But otherwise solid execution and a pair of surprisingly likable characters make the film a satisfying watch overall. Check it out if you are a fan of the genre and skip it otherwise.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good characters, action, and plot.