The Saint (1997)

30% of critics liked it
(44 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(65,032 ratings)

Based on the popular novels about that other suave, globe-trotting man of action, this genre picture from director Phillip Noyce mixed romance and character development with dangerous stunts, geopolitical intrigue, and a variety of elaborate disguises, resulting in an uneven stew of a spy thriller.… More Based on the popular novels about that other suave, globe-trotting man of action, this genre picture from director Phillip Noyce mixed romance and character development with dangerous stunts, geopolitical intrigue, and a variety of elaborate disguises, resulting in an uneven stew of a spy thriller. Val Kilmer is Simon Templar, a classy, cunning master thief and "man of a thousand faces" who cribs his phony names from those of obscure saints and sells his illegal services to the highest bidder. Hired by an ambitious Russian politician (Rade Serbedzija) to steal the formula for cold fusion, Templar falls in love with Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the frail Oxford scientist who has unlocked the secret of the process. Back in Moscow, the thief debates whether to betray his new love or the powerful madman who is paying him millions, until he discovers that his client is concealing oil reserves that could save his freezing people. Often seen as an also-ran to the legendary James Bond, Templar, the creation of author Leslie Charteris, in fact predated the first Bond novel by decades and probably inspired Ian Fleming in his creation of the debonair agent. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Phillip Noyce
Written By: Jonathan Hensleigh, Wesley Strick
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Apr 4, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Oct 6, 1998
Studio: Paramount

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
A generic suspenser that doesn't taste bad at first bite but becomes increasingly hard to swallow.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
This insufferable romance-adventure includes vague comedy as well as unintentional humor, and its target audience seems to be preadolescents who won't notice the calculated enthusiasm with which it sidesteps sexuality.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Love redeems this profiteer; it also renders him conventional.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Reinvention in the hands of Hollywood is seldom cause for celebration.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
There isn't a contemporary film actor more crafty than Val Kilmer -- or one who reveals less of his true self. That's why Kilmer is so perfectly cast as Simon Templar, the master thief and elusive disguise artist of The Saint.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
More entertaining than Mission: Impossible or the last Bond film, Goldeneye, it brings back the humour and sang-froid that makes the genre work.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Kilmer slips in and out of a series of ludicrously elaborate disguises, some more convincing than others, while poor Shue shuffles through the role of a sexy, book-reading babe pretending to be a dowdy lady scientist in kneesocks.
Darren Bignell, Empire Magazine
There's no lack of style or pace from Noyce, just the sense that it isn't quite gelling together.
, Film4
The glossy photography is stunning and Kilmer's implausible accents are fun.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
There was enough in the movie for me to watch and somewhat enjoy it the whole way through.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Eminently forgettable.
Tom Meek, Film Threat
What could have been a cool concept movie buckles under an uninspired script and some treacherous miscasting.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Kilmer should have stuck with his Batman character.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Nothing in the film really makes any sense, and all the other characters seem buffoonish and arch, overplayed to the point of farce, more Matt Helm than James Bond.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The film works, thanks to Noyce's skill in creating suspense and staging elaborate action scenes.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
The predictable action-thriller elements are all in place, from coke-sniffing, machine-gun-toting thugs to monotonous narrow escapes. The look is stylish, sound is above average, and the acting only as good as it has to be.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
This film ought to make tons of money.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Disappointing on nearly every level.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
The story that screenwriters Jonathan Hensleigh and Robert S. Baker have concocted keeps bogging down in silly contradictions or cliches.
Susan Lambert, Boxoffice Magazine
The script is a mixed bag of elaborate and unnecessary pseudo-politics, intriguing ideas and mostly confusing rehashed romantic mishmash.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

Based on a character created back in 1928, this film tells the story of an expert thief and master of disguise who, in this telling, has all sorts of aliases, all of them named after Catholic saints. The Saint gets involved in all sorts of troubles when his latest caper sees him… More
Based on a character created back in 1928, this film tells the story of an expert thief and master of disguise who, in this telling, has all sorts of aliases, all of them named after Catholic saints. The Saint gets involved in all sorts of troubles when his latest caper sees him falling in love and caught up in some nutty geopolitical issues in Russia. The concept and ideas, mostly that of using saint names as aliases, are pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, the way thigns are executed here leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not quite sure what went wrong. Noyce has experience with this sort of thing, so maybe most of the blame goes to the script and the specific story. Some of it's cool, but it seems a little lifeless and dull. That said, I still found the film to be entertaining and watchable, even though it isn't really that good. It kinda comes close though. The love story is a little hokey, and some of this stuff overall is kinda silly, but it's fun, and definitely had potential to be awesome. Val Kilmer is fun to watch use all kinds of different wigs, accents, and costumes, though it amazes me how many of the characters get fooled by some of his disguises, especially since some of them are really not all that great. He does a good job though. Shue is okay, or at least servicable, though she kidna comes off as a little silly, which clashes with some of the more dramatic and seriosu thriller elements at hand. Actually, I think I just figured it out. Part of the issue here is the tone. It's uneven, and unsucessfully tries to mix levity with drama. In a lot of ways, this is like the Bond films, although some of those manage the mixing far better than others. Maybe I'm just underwhelmed by all of this because it didn't seem all that fresh and exciting. Like I said though, it did entertain me, and I was never bored. See it if you like, but don't expect it to be the real gem it should have been.
Jeff "

The Saint, for me is a borderline decent action film. The ideas in the film, are good, but poorly executed, and feel kinda cheesy, yet there's something appealing the film too. The Saint for all its flaws, is a fun film to watch. The acting leaves a lot to be desired, but… More
The Saint, for me is a borderline decent action film. The ideas in the film, are good, but poorly executed, and feel kinda cheesy, yet there's something appealing the film too. The Saint for all its flaws, is a fun film to watch. The acting leaves a lot to be desired, but somehow the film is entertaining enough to be a passable action film. I agree that this film is uneven, but there are far worst films than The Saint out there. Val Kilmer give a decent performance, but one that is forgettable as well. The Saint is a cheesy action film that you have to watch when you want to be a mindless movie night where you pick something that doesn't have much plot. The Saint is a cool decent flick, but because there a lot of flaws with the film. Especially that now, watching the film today, the film looks dated all around. The film hasn't aged well. I was surprised at the names involved in this film, and considering that this film isn't good or excellent, it's just decent I was surprised to see actors like Michael Byrne in this. The Saint for all it's imperfection is entertaining, I liked it, but I wouldn't call it a good film. Like I said earlier, it's a decent flick at best. Nothing special on screen
Anthony L

A cinematic sin.
Candy R

Good cast but movie is disappointing.
Tsubaki S

Fun to watch for some reason i still can`t explain.
Lafe F

The Saint has a cold dank Russian setting, which brought it down. Val Kilmer dons some great disguises on his mission. I liked the uplifting ending when the fusion occurs. Warmer locations people!
xGary X

Mindless nonsense in which Val Kilmer dons a series of disguises about as convincing as a giraffe in a Groucho moustache trying to pass itself off as a gerbil. Forgettable and silly.
Jason S

I liked this little action movie. I wish they would have made a few more.
Dean M

Val Kilmer is terrific as 'The Saint' in this non-stop spy thrills.
Naughtia N

This is one of my favorite Val Kilmer movie of all time. Simon is a loner and a thief who uses many false identities and names of Catholic saints. He has committed many crimes without ever getting caught. When he is to steal a formula recipe made by scientist Emma, things get a little… More
This is one of my favorite Val Kilmer movie of all time. Simon is a loner and a thief who uses many false identities and names of Catholic saints. He has committed many crimes without ever getting caught. When he is to steal a formula recipe made by scientist Emma, things get a little complicated because he falls in love with her. The movie is very thrilling and one can't wait to see what happens next. Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue do an awesome job.
Deb S

Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar, a spy with the abilities to avert his enemies with his ever changing persona; his acting, various accents and disguises were interesting, believable and amusing and so was Elisabeth Shue as his love interest, a PhD with the correct formula for cold… More
Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar, a spy with the abilities to avert his enemies with his ever changing persona; his acting, various accents and disguises were interesting, believable and amusing and so was Elisabeth Shue as his love interest, a PhD with the correct formula for cold fusion, who gets entangled with Kilmer. Despite its flaws the Saint is a fun entertaining movie filled with action, adventure and drama.
Doctor S

Hard to believe there was a time when studios were banking on Val Kilmer to kill at the box office during the key summer months. I've never read any of 'The Saint' series, but I have to believe he was a more dynamic & charismatic individual than portrayed here.… More
Hard to believe there was a time when studios were banking on Val Kilmer to kill at the box office during the key summer months. I've never read any of 'The Saint' series, but I have to believe he was a more dynamic & charismatic individual than portrayed here. Philip Noyce brings a few thrills to the screen but not enough to stick in my memory.
Sarah B

A misguided misstep for everyone involved.
Lee K

my wife's fave movie of all time, i enjoyed it the 1000 times ive had to watch it ( thanx honey) kilmer was great
Leo L

Great movie! Fantastic music! Love this movie.