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Awix (3310 KP) rated Ronin (1998) in Movies

Jan 10, 2021  
Ronin (1998)
Ronin (1998)
1998 | Action, Mystery
Solid but faintly generic thriller is given a distinct boost by a strong cast and script. Natascha McElhone plays a woman from County Leprechaun who assembles a team of mercenaries to steal a box (which is a McGuffin of the purest kind). On the roster are Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Sean Bean, and Stellan Skarsgard, not all of whom are wholly reliable. Soon enough engines are revving, bullets flying, crosses being doubled, and meets going bad.

Thematically (as well as chronologically) this is somewhere between Mission: Impossible and the first Bourne film, initially given a wistful, existential quality by the script (co-written by David Mamet under a pseudonym). It gives an extra lift to what was already a very robust and engaging thriller. What really makes it sing are the action scenes and car chases, which are superb. The movie cops out in a few places, particularly the end, but remains extremely engaging and polished: superior stuff.
  
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
1992 | Drama
The cast (2 more)
The screenplay
The location
On paper, a film about a bunch of real estate salesman sitting around an office insulting each other and going to any length to get the customer to buy what they are selling may sound boring and uninteresting.

Let m tell you, this film is far from that and is one of my favorite films of all time. If you even put aside the stellar cast of Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin and Alec Baldwin (best role of his career), the screenplay by David Mamet (based on his play) is so full of rich, entertaining words, you can't believe what you are hearing.


Some of the battles between the salesman trying to get their sale or insulting each other after something goes awry have to be heard to be believed. The Alec Baldwin speech is really great; however, the one I always remember is the lashing Al Pacino gives Kevin Spacey when Spacey says the wrong thing.


Unbelievable!


I highly recommend as I have seen many times and enjoy even more every time.