Sneakers (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Phil Alden Robinson

Writers (WGA):

Phil Alden Robinson (written by) and
Lawrence Lasker (written by) ...

Release Date:

9 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

We could tell you what it's about. But then, of course, we'd have to kill you.

Plot:

Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Cryptography | Encryption | License Plate | Blindness

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jo Marr	...	College-Aged Cosmo (as Jojo Marr)
Robert Redford	...	Bishop
Gary Hershberger	...	College-Aged Bishop
Sidney Poitier	...	Donald Crease
David Strathairn	...	Erwin 'Whistler' Emory
Dan Aykroyd	...	Mother
River Phoenix	...	Carl
Bodhi Elfman	...	Centurion S&L Night Guard
Denise Dowse	...	Bank Teller
Hanyee	...	Bank Secretary
Timothy Busfield	...	Dick Gordon
Eddie Jones	...	Buddy Wallace
Time Winters	...	Homeless Man
Mary McDonnell	...	Liz
Jun Asai	...	Piano Prodigy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual references.

Runtime:

126 min | Canada:118 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:12 (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Netherlands:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #31961) | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

James Earl Jones, David Strathairn and Mary McDonnell all also appeared together in Matewan (1987).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Whistler is driving the van, one of the headlights gets smashed, yet is operational in a subsequent shot.

Quotes:

Cosmo: I'm sorry if he hurt you. I'm afraid Wallace doesn't like you very much.
Martin Bishop: You oughta have that guy checked for rabies.
Cosmo: Rabies occurs only in warm-blooded animals.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'Sneakers' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Chain Of Fools

Wonderfully scored, thinking ahead of its time . . .

Despite its relative obscurity, Sneakers is quickly becoming a cult favorite of the internet generation. It's a perfect blend of romance, tech and adventure that highlights the increasing importance of information. The always beautiful Mary McDonnell as Liz doesn't hurt, either. The soundtrack is arguably the best of James Horner's film scores pre-dating Braveheart, with an ethereal jazzy feel that sets the mood from the opening credits.

For an early nineties movie, Sneakers was remarkably forward thinking in its script and plot. Many of its themes have only become more relevant with the flowering of the data network. All in all a great film for those of you who enjoy flicks like Hudson Hawk or Mission Impossible.