Ronin (1998)

A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

J.D. Zeik (story), J.D. Zeik (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Sam
Jean Reno	...	Vincent
Natascha McElhone	...	Deirdre
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Gregor
Sean Bean	...	Spence
Skipp Sudduth	...	Larry
Michael Lonsdale	...	Jean-Pierre
Jan Tríska	...	Dapper Gent
Jonathan Pryce	...	Seamus O'Rourke
Ron Perkins	...	Man with the Newspaper
Féodor Atkine	...	Mikhi
Katarina Witt	...	Natacha Kirilova
Bernard Bloch	...	Sergi
Dominic Gugliametti	...	Clown Ice Skater
Alan Beckworth	...	Clown Ice Skater

Storyline

Ronin is the Japanese word used for Samurai without a master. In this case, the Ronin are outcast specialists of every kind, whose services are available to everyone - for money. Dierdre (undoubtedly from Ireland) hires several Ronin to form a team in order to retrieve an important suitcase from a man who is about to sell it to the Russians. After the mission has been completed successfully, the suitcase immediately gets switched by a member of the team who seems to work into his own pocket. The complex net of everyone tricking everyone begins to surface slowly, and deadly...

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Plot Keywords:

ronin | case | suitcase | russian | ex kgb | 

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Taglines:

Your ally could become your enemy

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ronin

Filming Locations:

Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£875,545 (UK) (20 November 1998)

Gross:

$41,609,593 (USA) (12 February 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FGM Entertainment, United Artists Corporation, United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Japan nowadays,"Ronin" means not only a Samurai without master, but it also used as an insult, directed at students who haven't been accepted to University

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Goofs

During the car chase in Paris the hands on the steering wheel of the BMW during inside shots appear to be male hands (obviously the stunt driver). This especially obvious in a shot shortly after they have left the tunnel.

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Quotes

Vincent: Everyone's your brother until the rent comes due.

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Connections

References Doctor Zhivago (1965)

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Soundtracks

Adeste Fideles
(uncredited)
Written by Traditional

User Reviews

A film that lives up to its high expectations

"Ronin" is one of those rare action films like "The French Connection" and "To Live and Die in L.A." that will keep a viewer watching from beginning to end. The performances in this movie are nothing short of superb and terrific. All of the key characters deserve a lot of credit, ranging from De Niro, Reno, McElhrone, Pryce, Skarsgard, and especially, Michael Lonsdale, who fills in the missing link with such detail and looks like he made the little samurai action figures with extreme care. The best scene of the film isn't the shootouts or car chases, it's the conservation that Sam (De Niro) and Jean-Pierre (Lonsdale) have over the Ronin myth. I'll have to admit that "Ronin" is the first film that I have seen was made by the crafty veteran director John Frankenheimer ("Grand Prix", "The Manchurian Candidate"). If you haven't seen "Ronin", go to a video store and rent the movie now.