Ronin [DVD] [1988]

is a 1998 American action thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer and written by John David Zeik and David Mamet, under the pseudonym Richard Weisz. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, and Jonathan Pryce. The film is about a team of former special operatives hired to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded briefcase while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties. The film was praised for its realistic car chases in Nice and Paris.Frankenheimer signed to direct Zeik's screenplay, which Mamet rewrote to expand De Niro's role and develop plot details, in 1997. The film was photographed by Robert Fraisse in his native France from November 3, 1997, to March 3, 1998. Professional racing car drivers coordinated and performed the vehicle stunts, and Elia Cmiral scored the film, his first for a major studio.Ronin premiered at the 1998 Venice Film Festival before its general release on September 25. Critics were generally positive about the film's action, casting, and technical aspects, while the plot attracted criticism. The film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing $70.7 million on a budget of $55 million. Ronin, Frankenheimer's last well-received feature film, was considered to be a return to form for the director. Film critic and historian Stephen Prince called the film Frankenheimer's "end-of-career masterpiece". The car chases, which were favourably compared with those in Bullitt and The French Connection, was included on several media outlets' lists as among the best depicted on film

Excellent performances and love the car chase

* SynopsisA group of experienced men are hired for a job to hijack a case from a group of lowlifes in France. They will be paid very well for this when completed successfully. They stay overnight in a Paris garage. The munitions are acquired but one of the group is found out to have been telling exaggerated lies about his background and is ejected from the group. The talisman of such riches tends to destroy the group and others allegiance and they fight each other to own it and to be paid. What happens next?* CommentaryThe main plays (Robert De Niro, Jean Reno) use driving as the way to explore violence and not physical assaults. The fighting using cars spreads all over France. The dynamics of the film maintains interest all throughout the movie. The squabbling with the case is more important than the love of another, or friendship. It is a roulette wheel of a chance of who will survive? The female lead (Natasha McElhone) is really good. She does a superb Irish accent. (i.m.h.o). Its design is old school crime movie which is ok.

Ronin is, in my opinion, is John Frankenheimer's best film - even picked up a few awards along the way. Robert De Nero's take on Sam is excellent, and even Sean Bean does well in this, as the crazy gun toting Spence. The star of the movie has to be Natascha McElhone as Deirdre; desperate to get that case no matter what. Was really pleased to see Jean Reno in this, his French flair being a centrepiece.If you don't know what Ronin is about then prepare for a whirlwind plot, dodgy plans and wasted opportunities (by the gang, not direction), oh and probably the best car chases I've seen in the 90s. The best one being in Paris, closely followed by the one in Nice.The film has a lot of twists and turns, and is a pleasure to watch, with De Nero, Reno and Bean this is an all star cast, with a great landscape and storyline.The blu-ray is a total let down, only the film and the trailer is included. This is a joke as the Definitive Edition has an alternative ending, so why can't this BD? After all, it's only a 2hr film, and it's in MPEG-2 running at a steady 20Mbps - AVC would have been so much better. The uncompressed PCM is a blessing though, and it's commendable of Fox to use it. I would have liked MORE extras though, they should have included them no matter what definition they were in. The alternative ending is as good as the original, some have even argued better, so why oh why did they omit it?Not a very good BD, if you have a passion for this film, then get it, it's all you could ask for movie wise. Otherwise if you want extras, and are not fussed about HD then do get the Definitive Edition, which is nearly a tenner cheaper and richer in content. The difference between the two transfer wise is noticeable, but only to the avid eye, and the sound is obviously better on blu-ray.4/5 for the film, 2/5 for the blu-ray extras, 4/5 for HD transfer.

One of the most exciting car chases I have ever seen: Bullit but through French streets. All pre digital/CGI. Wonderful. Oh and the film's quite good too!