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Niten. NR (75 KP) rated Ronin (1998) in Movies

Jul 28, 2017  
Ronin (1998)
Ronin (1998)
1998 | Action, Mystery
Robert De Niro (2 more)
Jean Reno
Awesome script.
Serious underworld thriller
Ronin is a mysterious and serious crime type thriller which takes the viewers into the arena of the crime underworld. An seemingly ex CIA agent named Sam (De Niro) throws his lot in with a group brought together by an Irish Terrorist played by Natascha McElhone. Their task is to steal a suitcase from a dangerous Russian gang. Unfortunately not all goes to plan. There are two great stand out performances by De Niro and Jean Reno but, I thought McElhone and Sean Bean were very good also. There is great action and an especially fast car scene that has Sean Bean spill his lunch. An excellent film.
  
The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
1988 | Comedy, Drama
Beautiful Drama
Director Robert Redford brings us this story of a New Mexico town where tensions begin to rise when one farmer uses an unauthorized form of water to irrigate his bean crop. The act is noticed by the local townspeople, the local law enforcement and the opposing force of a rich property magnate eager to build a sprawling golf course on the town's land.

The townspeople eventually band together after much debate, but they are not sure anything can be done.

I enjoyed this drama; however, felt like it dragged a bit at times. The ensemble cast was enjoyable especially Christopher Walken and John Heard. Rubén Blades as the local law was also fun to watch.

The vast New Mexico countryside was probably my favorite element to watch. No doubt this factor was also probably appealing to Redford who is a lifelong environmentalist.

I enjoyed it.

  
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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.