tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post7922037359019883350..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Film Friday: Ronin (1998)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-72007006232083108852011-04-16T17:33:11.541-04:002011-04-16T17:33:11.541-04:00Doc, It actually took me a while too because you d...Doc, It actually took me a while too because you don't really learn about the Russians being competitors until later in the film and the head guy does speak French. In any event, that's a great scene and it really shows you the difference between Sam and Spence in real terms.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-482305998108075702011-04-16T00:27:46.757-04:002011-04-16T00:27:46.757-04:00This is a great film and an interesting review! I ...This is a great film and an interesting review! I had to watch it several times to get all the ins and outs. I think it took me three or four viewings before I realized it was the Russians attacking them under the bridge. The head guy speaks French, but the others are clearly yelling in Russian once things start.<br /><br />I love the bit in the area too where the Russians are just brutual about getting the job done and they end up shooting a couple of tourists.Doc Whoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283308866886912377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-41660539354419820582011-04-15T19:11:56.581-04:002011-04-15T19:11:56.581-04:00Tam, Thanks! I was going to avoid the film because...Tam, Thanks! I was going to avoid the film because I figured it would be liberalized. Now I'll check it out. I'm glad too to hear there were crowds. I hope this movie scores big time and encourages Hollywood to make more conservative films!Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-31180937417194093742011-04-15T18:47:36.102-04:002011-04-15T18:47:36.102-04:00Tam, Thanks! :-)
I thought it was an incredible b...Tam, Thanks! :-)<br /><br />I thought it was an incredible book and when I heard they were making it into a film, I was very concerned they were going to twist it and do something like make hedgefunds into the problem.<br /><br />I can't imagine Obama would be very happy seeing that film at all. In fact, if they stick to the book, then I can't image any Democrats will feel particularly comfortable watching the film.<br /><br />Now I need to see this film! I was going to wait, but I think I'll go check it out.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-16630021068627551952011-04-15T18:38:51.932-04:002011-04-15T18:38:51.932-04:00It was really good. No lefty twists and turns, tha...It was really good. No lefty twists and turns, that's for sure. The government and unions are portrayed very much as they were in the book (and reality, I might add). I was confused a little, I thought I was watching Dear Leader and his minions at times...<br /><br />One thing that did not quite come through in the movie was the extreme frustration the great business people and producers felt. Other than that, I think it was great. This is a movie Obama would not want you to see!Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16892551860593187175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-29522091609038654902011-04-15T18:34:58.229-04:002011-04-15T18:34:58.229-04:00Tam, I agree about Jean Reno. I've really lik...Tam, I agree about Jean Reno. I've really liked in everything I've seen him in, even when I despised the movie (like the Pink Panther film). I wish Hollywood made more use of him!<br /><br /><br />This is a good spot to talk about <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>. How was it? Did they keep to the themes in the book or did they try to twist them leftwards? I'm very curious!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-68366111633841161492011-04-15T18:33:11.987-04:002011-04-15T18:33:11.987-04:00Ed, Good luck! Buy them while they're legal! ...Ed, Good luck! Buy them while they're legal! ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-9385973713982039902011-04-15T18:20:45.712-04:002011-04-15T18:20:45.712-04:00I loved Ronin, and I love Jean Reno.
On another ...I loved Ronin, and I love Jean Reno. <br /><br />On another note, I just got back from Atlas Shrugged...I was probably the youngest person in the crowd, BUT there was a crowd. I don't remember the last time I went to a movie in a crowded theater. Also, everyone clapped at the end. That hasn't happened to me since the opening sequence and the familiar John Williams tune when the new Star Wars movies came out.<br /><br />Anyone else seen it? Or should I have saved this for the open thread on Sunday....Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16892551860593187175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-13129580958923020182011-04-15T17:42:38.296-04:002011-04-15T17:42:38.296-04:00Andrew, When they first came out, you couldn't...Andrew, When they first came out, you couldn't even find them they were sold out before they ever got here. I should go look now and see if they are available yet!Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-33142218577944750532011-04-15T14:09:45.253-04:002011-04-15T14:09:45.253-04:00Ed, The car chase is one of the best on film. It&...Ed, The car chase is one of the best on film. It's almost up there with <i>Bullit</i>. And to make it all the more real, they actually put the actors into the cars for part of it and you can see the fear in their eyes.<br /><br />I have to admit that gun impressed me too. In fact, it impressed enough people that SIG brought out a civilian version a few years after the movie, which you can now get in the US. I've been tempted myself.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79128036120572136102011-04-15T14:04:27.750-04:002011-04-15T14:04:27.750-04:00I loved this film. I thought everything about it w...I loved this film. I thought everything about it was great, especially the car chase. I also have to admit that it got me interested in the SIG 551 that De Niro was using. I keep meaning to get one.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-14733216129302100342011-04-15T14:01:25.260-04:002011-04-15T14:01:25.260-04:00USS Ben, I agree. Reno would easily be at the top...USS Ben, I agree. Reno would easily be at the top of my list for almost any film I could think of. But somehow, he only seems to get called for films like the Pink Panther remake and Godzilla. It's a shame because he really is a tremendous talent with a very likable film personality.<br /><br />What's funny about De Niro, is that even before he started saying stupid things (which I think was short-lived), he was wearing out his welcome with me because he kept playing the same role over and over -- the ethnic cop/gangster. Even when he wasn't playing a gangster/cop, he still seemed to be playing that role. This was the first role in a long time that he played that I really felt he did something different. It wasn't wildly different, but it was truly different.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-41435293978882823402011-04-15T13:56:44.435-04:002011-04-15T13:56:44.435-04:00DUQ, That's a truly excellent question and tha...DUQ, That's a truly excellent question and that's where I think writing talent come in. I would guess that you need to get all the basics down firmly and everything else can be fudged, and from there it's how you fudge it that matters.<br /><br />Consider the "Vienna" thing again. The way they bring that out is so much more interesting than if someone had said, "where have you worked?" and he said "Vienna." I think the key in that case is the way he says it and you also draw in the aspects of the current scene into that word to give you a sense of what "Vienna" was about. In other words, from the context, we assume it was something similar with spies running around chasing someone or something. So it's all in how you trick the audience into shaping their beliefs.<br /><br />Is there a formula? Not that I know of.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-86578638893554632032011-04-15T13:48:33.212-04:002011-04-15T13:48:33.212-04:00Jed: thanks for the book recommendation. I'll ...Jed: thanks for the book recommendation. I'll check that out.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1960892411348696562011-04-15T13:46:28.307-04:002011-04-15T13:46:28.307-04:00Outstanding review, Andrew!
When an actor like De...Outstanding review, Andrew!<br /><br />When an actor like DeNiro pisses me off it's difficult not to be distracted by that while watching a movie he's in. <br /><br />Fortunately, Reno is in this one, so that helps me enjoy the film immensely! <br /><br />You're right about his talent being wasted. I don't get it.<br />Reno has enough talent to make even lemons like Godzilla 2000 palatable.<br />If I were a director he would be one of my top go to guys for virtually any role I could think of and there ain't very many actors or actresses I can say that about.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-6531055369147774042011-04-15T13:45:46.997-04:002011-04-15T13:45:46.997-04:00Andrew, Excellent review as always. I think anothe...Andrew, Excellent review as always. I think another point to add is there is a balancing here. If you give too much information, then nothing is left to pull the reader in. But if you give too little, then the story is too empty to pull the reader in. I'm not sure where that line is, but it is the vital line here.DUQnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1870000517737140442011-04-15T12:48:42.042-04:002011-04-15T12:48:42.042-04:00Writer X, Same here! :-)
I actually had gotten p...Writer X, Same here! :-)<br /><br />I actually had gotten pretty bored with De Niro before this and he delivered a heck of a performance. And Reno was great! I kept hoping they would do some sort of sequel or just use the same cast in something similar, but they never did. That's too bad. I think Reno and De Niro had incredible chemistry.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-15040117008722387952011-04-15T12:42:34.602-04:002011-04-15T12:42:34.602-04:00This is one of my all-time fave films. I thought J...This is one of my all-time fave films. I thought Jean Reno was brilliant and DeNiro was perfect in this role.Writer Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-9888061588829405002011-04-15T12:34:59.197-04:002011-04-15T12:34:59.197-04:00Thanks Matty! This was the second film in which I ...Thanks Matty! This was the second film in which I saw Reno -- the first being "The Professional" and I was really impressed with him too. Unfortunately, much of the rest of his career has been wasted in things like the Pink Panther remake.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-57139264096275411692011-04-15T12:30:21.008-04:002011-04-15T12:30:21.008-04:00This is my favorite De Niro film, but I like Jean ...This is my favorite De Niro film, but I like Jean Reno in this even better. Good review!Iced Mattynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-5838685902587346212011-04-15T12:15:32.403-04:002011-04-15T12:15:32.403-04:00Jed, I definitely will watch SP with subtitles. L...Jed, I definitely will watch SP with subtitles. Like you, one of the things I love about DVDs is having the ability to go back and rewatch specific moments and to turn on the subtitles to get any nuances that you might miss because of the soundtrack.<br /><br />Plus, in some instances, the sound quality is so bad on films these days (or the accents are so bad in a lot of British crime films) that I have little choice but to turn on the subtitles. I also prefer to use subtitles for foreign films rather than the voice-overs because they miss a lot. Also, as an aside, I've found (from speaking German) that the subtitles are often more accurate than the voice-overs.... very strange.<br /><br />On Redford, I have really never cared for his style. There's something lazy about it in that it lacks creativity or surprise or even anything of interest -- it's just a film presented very generically. And I don't like his politics at all, which strike me as smug elitism while pretending he's being apolitical.<br /><br />In terms of the story itself, I'm only slightly familiar with the events in question as the Lincoln assassination has never struck much of a chord with me. But it does seem tailor-made to be exploited to make political statements about today's war on terror. And it wouldn't surprise me at all, if this turned out to be politically correct garbage that school teachers try to use as a teaching tool. It's amazing how often teachers seem to love using film propaganda in their classrooms.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-73932464084552500792011-04-15T12:01:34.107-04:002011-04-15T12:01:34.107-04:00Lawhawk, I think I know the incident. He got a go...Lawhawk, I think I know the incident. He got a good deal holier-than-thou for a short period of time around this when he was opening his movie festival and started talking about racism in the US.<br /><br />Check it out, this ranks very, very highly both with the public and the critics. But even more importantly, this is really a great film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-15916532864542821242011-04-15T11:59:24.671-04:002011-04-15T11:59:24.671-04:00Andrew - I'll do exactly that. I love DVD for ...Andrew - I'll do exactly that. I love DVD for this very reason: it is so easy to re-watch scenes, lines, and everything else. When I do, I have tablet in hand for notes! :D As for S.P., I think maybe the reason some missed the key tie-in is just that. The foghorn blows just as Martin delivers the reveal. While I don't advocate subtitles during an initial screening, I am now firmly an advocate when later dissecting the film. Give it a try!<br /><br />The Conspirator: The trial of Mary Surratt and Samuel Mudd, more than any others, provoked controversy at the time. Many though Surratt was being used as leverage for the son to turn himself in. I don't doubt something like that could have been said, whether those exact words were used. I definitely agree about his film style. I liked it in the Natural and Baggar Vance (did he do Gatsby, too?) but it has been so overused by him it no longer is effective. Plus, he's just an old fart liberal with enough money to be an ass about it and try to do some real damage<br /><br /> My rant today is over the fact Redford is hoping to use the civil war anniversary to make a movie that will give only one side of a real argument. I can easily see high school teachers (wonder what their politics are?) to see this movie and brainwash them and draw the connection with GITMO. Well, screw Redford. At least Ted Tuner kept his politics at the door when he did history movies. BTW, I am serious about Blood on the Moon. It is a history book that reads like a great crime novel. I urge all to read it.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-86010551405895636782011-04-15T11:54:53.639-04:002011-04-15T11:54:53.639-04:00Andrew and Tennessee: I have to revisit Ronin. I...Andrew and Tennessee: I have to revisit <i>Ronin</i>. I didn't much care for it the time I watched it, but I think I was ticked off at De Niro about something at the time. In retrospect, it did seem deeper than what I was giving it credit for.<br /><br />As for <i>The Conspirator</i>, I'm glad I'm not the only one who was deeply suspicious based on Redford and the trailers. I'll wait for it to come to NetFlix and watch it only to see if one of the rotten prosecutors is named Bush.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-3079154626935843952011-04-15T11:23:18.734-04:002011-04-15T11:23:18.734-04:00Jed, On The Conspirator, there is actually somethi...Jed, On <i>The Conspirator</i>, there is actually something in the trailer that turns me off even before they mention Robert Reford, which pretty much turns me off. I don't like his style, which is fluffy and feels dated, and I don't like the way he politicizes everything.<br /><br />What turns me off is the one guy yelling "there is no limit to how far the prosecution is willing to go." I can't quite put my finger on it, but this sounds anachronistic to me -- like something somebody might yet in a cheap modern courtroom drama, not like anything anyone would have said back in 1865.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com