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Jean Reno, Jonathan Pryce, Natascha McElhone, Robert De Niro, Sean Bean ...( see more  see more... ) , Stellan Skarsgård

Robert De Niro stars as an American intelligence operative adrift in irrelevance since the end of the Cold War--much like a masterless samurai, a.k.a. "ronin." With his services for sale, he joins a r...( read more  read more... )enegade, international team of fellow covert warriors with nothing but time on their hands. Their mission, as defined by the woman who hires them (Natascha McElhone), is to get hold of a particular suitcase that is equally coveted by the Russian mafia and Irish terrorists. As the scheme gets underway, De Niro's lone wolf strikes up a rare friendship with his French counterpart (Jean Reno), gets into a more-or-less romantic frame of mind with McElhone, and asserts his experience on the planning and execution of the job--going so far as to publicly humiliate one team member (Sean Bean) who is clearly out of his league. The story is largely unremarkable--there's an obligatory twist midway through that changes the nature of the team's business--but legendary filmmaker John Frankenheimer (Seconds, The Manchurian Candidate) leaps at the material, bringing to it an honest tension and seasoned, breathtaking skill with precision-action direction. The centerpiece of the movie is an honest-to-God car chase that is the real thing: not the how-can-we-top-the-last-stunt cartoon nonsense of Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon), but a pulse-quickening, kinetic dance of superb montage and timing. In a sense, Ronin is almost Frankenheimer's self-quoting version of a John Frankenheimer film. There isn't anything here he hasn't done before, but it's sure great to see it all again. --Tom Keogh

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77% liked it

103,119 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

59 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: John Frankenheimer

Release Date: September 25, 1998

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

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Stats: 4,682 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,682)

  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    De Niro and Reno are brilliant together in this samurai influenced French heist thriller. Skarsgard also does well as an unlikely bad guy. This film is almost perfect but unfortunately Sean Bean ruins it by putting on one of the worst performances ever! Still, highly recommended!
  • phubbs1
    July 18, 2009
    phubbs1
    Real darkhorse of a movie here, came outta nowhere, the car chases are the best I've ever seen and the gun fights also rock bigtime. The story is basic but the cast is a real gem and possibly the best line up for along time. Great action that grips you to the end. Love Beans shor...( read more)t role.....'bit of rasberry jam back there eh..bit of rasberry jam' lol lol brilliant.
  • allan913
    July 11, 2009
    allan913
    A brilliant film. Smart, thrilling and explosive. It's stylish, well-crafted and original. Spectacular non-stop action and suspense. Filled with explosive gun battles and exhilerating car chases. Action films dont get any better than this. It's a pure adreniline-rush. Excitment y...( read more)ou can cut with a knife. Robert De Niro and Jean Reno are at their absolute best, their perfectly cast. A pulse-pounding ride that is really entertaining. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. A masterpiece. It ismade with real epic scope and is delivered expertly.
  • mrpopcorn
    June 3, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "Your ally could become your enemy"

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

    REVIEW

    A slam-bang a...( read more)ctioner that pulls no punches, takes no prisoners, and never slows down for a minute--except for an excruciating scene in which Robert DeNiro directs the removal of a bullet from his own abdomen. Director John Frankenheimer hasn't been in form this good since "The French Connection"; this is the best heist movie in years. The fine ensemble cast generates an on-screen tension that cracks and sparks until the inevitable betrayal and, amazingly, doesn't fall apart afterward. If for no other reason, "Ronin" is worth seeing for its stunning location cinematography. All its high-speed car chases were filmed on location in France, with the actual cast. DeNiro's performance is one of understated excellence, and Natasha McElhone blazes white-hot as a terrorist whose motives and loyalties are kept as secret as the contents of the locked suitcase so desperately sought by all.
  • sononothing
    September 18, 2008
    sononothing
    Lackluster espionage film that is saved by Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno. I kind of think of this as a European version of Heat, just without any real character development. DeNiro gives a classic performance in this forgettable film.

    I would like to add that this film received ex...( read more)tra points because it featured three former Bond villains (Sean Bean from Goldeneye, Jonathan Pryce from Tomorrow Never Dies, and Michael Lonsdale from Moonraker).
  • kikefecs
    February 4, 2010
    kikefecs
    Robert the Niro choose a grat movie with a lot of interesting characters. Not his best work but is constant. Interesting performance of Jean Reno
  • AlexLugonja
    February 4, 2010
    AlexLugonja
    Great film, great actors.
  • KESSLER72
    January 28, 2010
    KESSLER72
    highlighted by some nice shootouts and 2 excellent car chases that stack up with cinema's best, RONIN is a very entertaining flick.
  • TheHitcher1987
    January 25, 2010
    TheHitcher1987
    Last Viewed: N/A
  • OCButterfly99
    January 18, 2010
    OCButterfly99
    Its been along time. I would like to see again.

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I enjoyed the film on two levels: for its skill and its silliness. full review

View more Ronin reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • ktiger11
    June 22, 2008
    ktiger11
    you have taste my friend! loved this film i'm a big fan of robert de niro
  • soharto32
    September 25, 2007
    soharto32
    one of a great movies i ever seen, every scenario of the film make you recall of the events happen in every corner of the world in the news as to how they plan to assassinate individuals/ and the need to have money in any ways.
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Ronin Trivia

  • Which actor has appeared in The da vinci code, Ronin, and Mission Impossible?  Answer »
  • What actor has starred in the following movies? Ronin Lord of the Rings:Fellowship of the Ring Silent Hill Flightplan ?-?-?  Answer »
  • What car is preferred by Larry when planning for the first mission in Ronin?  Answer »
  • In Ronin, what did Sam (Robert DeNiro) ambush Spence (Sean Bean) with?  Answer »
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