Sneakers (1992)

A security pro finds his past coming back to haunt him, when he and his unique team are tasked with retrieving a particularly important item.

Director:

Phil Alden Robinson

Writers:

Phil Alden Robinson, Lawrence Lasker

Stars:

Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Sidney Poitier

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jo Marr	...	College-Aged Cosmo (as Jojo Marr)
Gary Hershberger	...	College-Aged Bishop
Robert Redford	...	Bishop
Sidney Poitier	...	Crease
David Strathairn	...	Whistler
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

Storyline

Martin Bishop is the head of a group of experts who specialize in testing security systems. When he is blackmailed by government agents into stealing a top secret black box, the team find themselves embroiled in a game of danger and intrigue. After they recover the box, they discover that it has the capability to decode all existing encryption systems around the world, and that the agents who hired them didn't work for the government after all.

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Plot Keywords:

computer | cryptography | security | nsa | encryption | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2012, the on-line magazine Slate published a series of articles about this movie commemorating the twentieth anniversary of its release. These included a piece by Stephen Tobolowsky (Dr. Werner Brandes), in which he said, "I can't remember having so much fun on a movie."

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Goofs

Bishop goes to the trouble of defeating the voice entry system, which leads him to being caught. While Carl catches up with him via the access vents, getting into them needed a decoy gardener, and sending two people into the bathroom would have attracted attention.

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Quotes

[Crease and Mother are being held at gunpoint by two guards]
Donald Crease: Did I ever tell you why I had to leave the CIA?
Mother: No...
Donald Crease: My temper.
[Behind the guards, Whistler throws the van into reverse. One of the guards spins around to look, and Crease grabs his shotgun and knocks out both guards]
Mother: Wow...
Donald Crease: Motherfuckers mess with me, I'll split your head!

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Crazy Credits

In the theatrical trailer, the case members' names were first presented as anagrams, then rearranged to spell correctly. They were: fort red border - Robert Redford a york dandy - Dan Aykroyd kneel by sing - Ben Kingsely carney mend moll - Mary McDonnell rionveih irnep - River Phoenix I edit spin yore - Sidney Poitier ad variant thirds - David Strathairn

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Alternate Versions

The line "Who's going to save the world Marty? Greenpeace?" in the dubbed Spanish version (DVD) becomes "Who's going to save the world Marty? The military?"

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'Sneakers' (2003)

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Soundtracks

Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35
Written and Performed by Bob Dylan
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Chinese

Release Date:

11 September 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sneakers

Filming Locations:

400 California Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,031,145, 13 September 1992

Gross USA:

$51,432,691

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$105,232,691

Company Credits

Production Co:

Parkes/Lasker productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min 118 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1