Ronin (1998)

A freelancing former U.S. 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 & 4 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:

The map is not the territory

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and some language

Details

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ronin

Filming Locations:

Allée François Aragon, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,697,641 (USA) (25 September 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

At the end of the chase in which the case is taken by the team and then stolen by Gregor, a French SWAT team arrives. The first SWAT man leaps out of the van armed with the very impressive Franchi SPAS-12 riot shotgun. Moments later another SWAT man is shown armed with the extremely rare Franchi SPAS-15 shotgun, the almost unknown successor to the SPAS-12. The SPAS-15 uses a detachable box magazine, shown clearly. Ronin may be the only major movie appearance of the SPAS-15.

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Goofs

Vincent is supposed to be a mercenary or former intelligence agent with connections all around France to get whatever the team needs. Yet, during the initial briefing, he fails to recognize basic military terms.

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Quotes

Deirdre: [Sam retrieves his gun from behind some crates] What exactly were you doin' back here?
Sam: Lady, I never walk into a place I don't know how to walk out of.
Deirdre: Then why are you gettin' into that van?
Sam: You know the reason.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bourne Identity (2002)

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Soundtracks

Adeste Fideles
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Frederick Oakeley and music by John Reading

User Reviews

Stunning car chases!! great movie!

This thriller from veteren John Frankenheimer is pure excellence, the script, acting and action are top draw. De Niro and Reno are brilliant in this as of course you would expect from two such excellent actors. The action scenes are pulse pounding and particularly excellent are the car chases, probably the best ever. Not only did the stunt guys risk their lives but the guys shooting the action captured some truly thrilling close up view from the cars as they speed along. The action also carries a certain degree of realism to it, the shootouts are sensible and the car chases and crashes seem very genuine no massive corkscrewing threw the air like most car chases or cars jumping 100 feet in the air like in Gone in 60 seconds, which is all very good but not for this sort of thriller. The pacing of the film was great and there was a constant chilling atmosphere. As I said before Robert De Niro and Jean Reno were exceptional particularly in their scenes together. The support cast are good too with a brief but excellent display from Sean Bean and Natasha Mchelhone and Jonathan Pryce are both good as Irish terrosists with comendable accents. All in all a very god way to spend a few hours.