RONIN
US, 1998, 121 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha Mc Elhone, Stellan Skarsgaard, Sean Bean, Skipp Sudduth, Michael Lonsdale, Jonathan Price.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.
Ronin is introduced with information about these Samurai who, after the death of their master, hire themselves out to avenge the lost honour. Who are these warriors today? Ex-intelligence agency operatives who find themselves in a different world in the 90s - except for the Troubles in Ireland which provide the political background for this thriller which was film entirely in Paris, Nice and Arles, using the locations as part of the plot and utilising their natural and tourist attractions.
Robert de Niro, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgaad are hired by Natascha Mc Elhone to ambush the possessors of a case. The preparations are shown in detail, but then there is doublecross and double doublecross. There is also a mixture of humanity and brutality that characterises this alien world.
Director John Frankenheimer has been making action thrillers for decades (and is not averse to a French Connection type chase to get the adrenalin pumping). This is an efficient and topical drama that draws its audience into its action while trying to suggest a critique of the politics and hatred that is at the root of it.
1. An interesting crime thriller? Action and chase thriller?
2. The European locations, Paris, Nice, the Riviera? The mountain countryside and the roads, the inner cities? The musical score and its atmosphere?
3. The plausibility of the plot, the IRA and their wanting to buy weapons? Russians in the market? The black market in arms deals? The interest of the CIA? The interest in rogue adventurers? The action, the work together of the team, the violence in the streets, bystanders killed? Assassination attempts?
4. The title, the explanation of the opening, the Samurai who had their masters defeated, who were out of work, roaming the countryside for reputation and work? As applied to Sam, Vincent and the others?
5. The Paris opening, sinister and dark, the steps, Sam and his surveillance, Vincent inside the café, Deirdre and her working there? The other members at the bar? Hagar, Sam entering, seeking the toilet, surveillance? The fact that it was a rendezvous for the IRA?
6. The plan, Deirdre and her taking control, the recruiting of the members of the force, the contact with the man in the wheelchair? The unknown head of the rogue group? The plans, the discussions, Gregor and his computer and his adding to the group? Their interactions, getting to know one another, the need for trust? The lack of information and detail?
7. Sam, the Robert de Niro character, his being a loner, ex-CIA, covering his tracks, speaking of the lessons that he learnt? His being recruited by Deirdre? With the group? The challenge to Spence? The friendship with Vincent? Larry and his cooking, cups of coffee? The team blending together?
8. The arms deal, Vincent getting all the arms, Spence saying he was an expert? The rendezvous near the river, suspicions, Spence going ahead, the deal, not all the arms in the trunk of the car? The light on the sniper on the ridge? The shoot-out? The police pursuit? The gang’s escape? The aftermath with Spence sick, confronted by Sam, Deirdre paying him off and letting him go?
9. Going to Nice, the set-up, the surveillance in the town, the device of Sam and Deirdre with the photos being taken of the group with the case? Checking their bodyguards and security? In the house, the surveillance?
10. The decision to go ahead, the ambush in the town, the traffic lights, the bottling of the car, the shoot-outs, the escapes? The pursuit in the mountains? Back to the city, the massacre, the market? Gregor and his taking the case? The failure of the operation?
11. Gregor, his character, quiet, his guiding the group with the computer and the map during the raid? His taking the case, his contacts and the man in the car, their lack of friendship in the past, each pulling the gun on the other, his shrewdness in moving the car, killing his opponent? The contact with the Russians, going to the ice-skating performance, having the assassin shoot the girl, the threat to the Russian, his not budging? The chase, the confrontation with Vincent and Sam, Vincent shooting him?
12. The deals with the Russians, Seamus O’Rourke? and his meeting with Deirdre in Paris, being in Nice, stopping the pursuit with the car door? His absolute ruthlessness, driving off without Sam and Vincent? His being in disguise at the entertainment, his getting the case, the shootings? His also being shot? His being a rogue leader, disowned by the IRA?
13. The aftermath, Sam and his being wounded, the detail of his operation and his guiding the surgery? Jean-Pierre? and his help? Friendship with Vincent? Finding out where Gregor was in Arles ? Their going to Arles, in the ancient amphitheatre, the pursuit in the amphitheatre?
14. The finale, Deirdre and her leaving? The failure of their cause? Sam and the help that he got from the CIA personnel? His being CIA, his mission to get Seamus O’Rourke? The friendship with Vincent, keep in touch?
15. A portrait of Ronin, the analogy with the Samurai becoming Ronin, the intelligence agencies, individuals for hire? The possibilities for terrorism?
