Ronin (1998)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Albert K

  
  A fun B-movie with one of the best car scene chases ever. Plot is lacking... but Robert De Niro is in it... He lifts this movie up. I loved the overall feel of this movie

• Dan S

  
  An entertaining, though extremely convoluted and occasionally way too silly action yarn detailing a team of mercenaries (led by Robert De Niro) who must recover a briefcase filled with contents they no nothing about. The plot, as said, is way to complicated to keep up with, and the… More
  An entertaining, though extremely convoluted and occasionally way too silly action yarn detailing a team of mercenaries (led by Robert De Niro) who must recover a briefcase filled with contents they no nothing about. The plot, as said, is way to complicated to keep up with, and the character development is pretty bad as well outside of De Niro, but this thing somehow, someway stays entertaining through a variety of breathtaking car chase sequences that match up against the best recorded in film. Sure, the chase sequences, like the movie as a whole, drift into silliness at more than one point, but the movie remains fun throughout. Think of it as a veteran's version "Eagle Eye", a film you kind of throw up your hands towards and go "it's....whatever man". If you turn your brain off and try to enjoy the action, you most likely will. But if you start to question the reality of, well, all of the film, then this thing has more holes than swiss cheese. So there you have it.

• Jens S

  
  This action thriller about a team of strangers being hired to retrieve a mysterious suitcase includes two of the most spectacular car chases of the 90s. Them being filmed almost at street level really makes you feel as if you're part of the pursuit and makes them stand out as the… More
  This action thriller about a team of strangers being hired to retrieve a mysterious suitcase includes two of the most spectacular car chases of the 90s. Them being filmed almost at street level really makes you feel as if you're part of the pursuit and makes them stand out as the highlights of the film. While the rest of the action may be a bit generic, the grumpy old men DeNiro and Reno make for excellent leading men, just being good at their jobs. The showdown falls a bit short after the excellent car action, and the final off-text feels oddly out of place, but that doesn't take much away from this exciting, old-fashioned thriller where friendships among men have to overcome mistrust but then would take a bullet for each other.

• xGary X

  
  A group of mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious case from a heavily armed organisation. Although it has a similar set up to Reservoir Dogs, Ronin is a rather more "adult" affair, echoing cold war thrillers spiced up with a liberal smattering of action. Veteran… More
  A group of mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious case from a heavily armed organisation. Although it has a similar set up to Reservoir Dogs, Ronin is a rather more "adult" affair, echoing cold war thrillers spiced up with a liberal smattering of action. Veteran director John Frankenheimer obviously devoted a lot of time to the shoot outs and car chases which have a visceral realism lacking in most Hollywood thrillers; in fact the whole film is beautifully engineered and features a superb cast making it all but technically flawless. It also has a very "European" flavour, not only because of the continental locations, but also the lack of shaky cam or over-saturated colour filters and a cast featuring real actors instead of underwear models make it feel a million miles from your average US shoot-em-up. My only criticism would be its sterility; it's rather lacking in heart because we learn so little about the characters and their motivations it's a little hard to care what happens to them, especially since we don't even find out what it is they're all fighting over! Still it's a perfectly crafted piece of entertainment and worth it for the thrilling chase sequences alone.

• Jeff "

  
  Ronin is one terrific action packed ride. Starring Robert De Niro and Stellan Skarsgard, A group of men are hired to steal a briefcase from criminals by an IRA operative, but they're never told whats in the briefcase, it's left up to the viewer to guess. Ronin is a non stop… More
  Ronin is one terrific action packed ride. Starring Robert De Niro and Stellan Skarsgard, A group of men are hired to steal a briefcase from criminals by an IRA operative, but they're never told whats in the briefcase, it's left up to the viewer to guess. Ronin is a non stop actioner that puts the throttle to metal and doesn't slow down. This is an intense ride and one that takes many twist as the job goes sour and betrayals ensue. This is a well crafted action film that delivers top notch action, the cast at hand here are terrific and they deliver strong performances. Ronin is an entertaining ride that doesn't let you breath, theres always something going on. The cast is well assembled, and you impressive names that have graced previous, masterful action films. Sean Bean and Jean Reno for one. The scripts limitations are overcome by the action delivery and in the end the somewhat weak script doesn't truly matter. The film is an adrenaline ride and has enough thrills till the awesome climax. Sure they're could have been things done better, but for what it does, Ronin succeeds into delivering a solid action film Sometimes thats a good, a mindless action film is sometimes what a viewer needs to be thoroughly entertained, and it works. Ronin is a fun, thrillin action film that delivers.

• Richard C

  
  B+

• Mike S

  
  Good and solid action-thriller. Lots of nice action scenes and rife with suspense. The only real complaint I have regards the pacing. It's a tad uneven and some scenes could easily have been shorted down without damaging the story. Apart from that minor downside, however, this is… More
  Good and solid action-thriller. Lots of nice action scenes and rife with suspense. The only real complaint I have regards the pacing. It's a tad uneven and some scenes could easily have been shorted down without damaging the story. Apart from that minor downside, however, this is a very exciting film. Not least with all the great actors found within its cast.

• Anthony L

  
  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!

• Phil H

  
  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… More
  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 short role.....'bit of rasberry jam back there eh..bit of rasberry jam' lol lol brilliant.

• Al S

  
  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.… More
  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 you 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.

• Manu G

  
  Pretty terrific film i gotta say, DeNiro nail that part of his character, he's the shit in this one and is never wrong! 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… More
  Pretty terrific film i gotta say, DeNiro nail that part of his character, he's the shit in this one and is never wrong! 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...

• Justin Y

  
  John Frankenheimer's resume may not look that impressive, but in 1998, a gem of a film known as <i>Ronin</i> shines out to the public.<p>The pacing for this 2 hour movie is a tad slow, however the characters and story make it worth the watch. Stealing a case… More
  John Frankenheimer's resume may not look that impressive, but in 1998, a gem of a film known as <i>Ronin</i> shines out to the public.<p>The pacing for this 2 hour movie is a tad slow, however the characters and story make it worth the watch. Stealing a case sounds really simple, and it is, but the double crossing keeps things interesting and entertaining.</p><p>There is a decent amount of action, which comes in the form of gun fights and car chases. Let's talk about these car chases; the second one to be more specific. Absolutely superb. There is no slow motion or constant carnage and explosions. Just a little of the latter. It is just pure real time adrenaline. Everything ranging from the camerawork, to the editing, and to the driving is just fantastic, and this makes both car chases, but more the second, some of the greatest chases ever caught on film.</p><p>The casting is also nicely done. Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, and everyone else fit perfectly into this story and style of film. Michael Lonsdale and the ice skating phenom, Katarina Witt, also show up for some small roles.</p><p><i>Ronin</i> is one intriguing crime thriller with great characters and car chases. Watch it and ask yourself "What's in the case?"

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Your ally could become your enemy"</i> A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Your ally could become your enemy"</i> A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> A slam-bang actioner 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.

• Chris G

  
  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 extra… More
  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 extra points because it featured three former Bond villains (Sean Bean from Goldeneye, Jonathan Pryce from Tomorrow Never Dies, and Michael Lonsdale from Moonraker).

• Tsubaki S

  
  They really don't make them like this anymore, or those days for that matter.

• Lenny M

  
  Interesting casting, great scenes, Sean Bean!!!!!

• Stephen M

  
  John Frankenheimer made some great movies in the '60s and '70s ("The Manchurian Candidate", "Seven Days in May", "French Connection II") so it was pleasing to see him helming a project on this scale towards the very end of his career. The simple… More
  John Frankenheimer made some great movies in the '60s and '70s ("The Manchurian Candidate", "Seven Days in May", "French Connection II") so it was pleasing to see him helming a project on this scale towards the very end of his career. The simple plot just involves an international assortment of mercenaries chasing a McGuffin in a silver briefcase through the streets of Nice, Arles and Paris, pausing only to cross or double-cross one another. De Niro is fine, Jean Reno is his usual charismatic self and Sean Bean contributes one of his 5th-billed, expendable-Englishman turns. She may be half-Irish but, for me, Natascha McElhone concentrates so hard on her Irish accent that she ends up stifling her performance. "Ronin" is no classic but it is a decent, old-fashioned, well-crafted thriller, which makes excellent use of its French locations and contains a couple of memorable car chases, one of which is an extraordinary, textbook example of why CGI can never compare with the real thing.

• A B

  
  Excellent all round - Script, acting, action.

• Lady D

  
  A much better film than I remember this being, with a plot that's fast and sometimes hard to keep up with comes great acting by an all star cast, some of the best high speed chase scenes ever to appear in films, terrorism, betrayal, great twists and turns and action packed.… More
  A much better film than I remember this being, with a plot that's fast and sometimes hard to keep up with comes great acting by an all star cast, some of the best high speed chase scenes ever to appear in films, terrorism, betrayal, great twists and turns and action packed. VERDICT: An action thriller that will keep your mind alert and addrenalin pumping

• Lafe F

  
  Ronin was an enjoyable spy action movie. I didn't get the Samurai references they mentioned. Good car chase scene! The story is suspenseful and interesting with some unforseen turns thrown in.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings