Ronin (1998)
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A team of former special operatives must navigate a maze of shifting loyalties while attempting to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded briefcase.
The story
The film centers around a team of former special operatives hired to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded briefcase while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties. The mission begins in a French bistro where the group is briefed by an IRA operative. They must navigate a series of dangerous encounters and high-stakes negotiations to secure the briefcase, which is being sought by various factions, including the Russian mafia. The narrative follows the team as they move through locations like Nice and Paris, facing escalating tension and physical danger as they attempt to complete their objective while dealing with internal betrayals and external threats.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
A team of mercenaries, including characters played by Robert De Niro and Jean Reno, is hired by an IRA operative to steal a mysterious briefcase from a convoy. After a successful ambush at Villefranche-sur-Mer, the team pursues the target to Nice. During the pursuit, a member of the team, Gregor, steals the case and attempts to sell it to the Russian mafia. The team eventually corners Gregor in the Arles Amphitheatre, but a confrontation with Russian mobsters leads to a shootout where several members are injured or captured. In Paris, the group is split; Sam and Vincent track the Russians, while Deirdre and others deal with the fallout of the theft. The plot culminates in a high-speed chase through Paris and a final confrontation at a concert venue where a Russian mobster, Mikhi, is killed. The film ends with Sam and Vincent meeting in a bistro, where they reflect on the mission and the mysterious contents of the briefcase, which remain unknown.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 121
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Frankenheimer
- Writers
- J.D. Zeik · screenplay; David Mamet · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro; Jean Reno; Natascha McElhone; Stellan Skarsgård; Sean Bean; Jonathan Pryce
- Genres
- neo-noir; action; thriller
- Tone and mood
- realistic; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; espionage; action
- Reception
- Critical reception was favorable, with praise for the ensemble cast, action scenes, and cinematography, though the plot received some criticism. It was considered a return to form for director John Frankenheimer.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: 100 · review count: 23
- Production trivia
- The film's title is derived from the Japanese legend of rōnin, samurai whose leader was killed and left them with no one to serve.; The car chases were compared to those in Bullitt and The French Connection.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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