Ronin

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Those who found this film mildly entertaining and are looking for a reason to check out the DVD are in for a big treat. The DVD features one of the best director commentary tracks ever. John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) is a man who understands his craft and isn't afraid to share his knowledge. He details everything about this movie and himself, from pet peeves to happy accidents that happened during production. Also included is the film's alternate ending. Though it's only two minutes long, it offers a terribly different fate for one of the lead characters. Transferred from the work print with timecode numbers still on it, it's brave of the filmmakers to show alternate options considered in making the film. The film is available in two formats, a brilliant anamorphic widescreen transfer and standard full screen. The English and French languages are both 5:1 Dolby Digital Surround. There's an eight-page booklet featuring insights on the making of the film, but is not nearly as informative as the commentary. DVD-ROMs can access more info on the web with PC-friendly software. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Pan and Scan, Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: French, English
• Features:
  • Never-before-seen alternate ending
  • Feature-length audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer
  • 8-page booklet featuring the making of the film

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Robert De Niro - Sam
       Jean Reno - Vincent
       Natascha McElhone - Deirdre
       Stellan Skarsgård - Gregor
       Sean Bean - Spence

• Director:

  John Frankenheimer

• Producer:

  Frank Mancuso, Jr.

• Screen Story:

  J.D. Zeik

• Screenwriter:

  Richard Weisz, J.D. Zeik

• Cinematographer:

  Robert Fraisse

• Composer (Music Score):

  Elia Cmiral

• Editor:

  Antony Gibbs

• Production Designer:

  Michael Z. Hanan

• Art Director:

  Gerard Viard

• Associate Producer:

  Ethel Winant

REVIEW:

• Any directorial career that includes both Seconds (1966) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) features more ups and downs than most, and with Ronin, John Frankenheimer announced a comeback. Exploring the territory of international espionage, it compensates for the familiarity of its material by doing just about everything right. A gripping, deliberately paced opening sequence perfectly sets the mood, capturing the uneasy peace of post-Cold War Europe with creepy effectiveness. The rest of the film runs with the notion, developing its vivid, weary characters and terse dialogue between well-staged action sequences. Frankenheimer films car chases as if he'd just invented the concept and David Mamet's pseudonymous script blows his gift for portraying con artistry up to an international scale. A memorable, thoughtful thriller cast to perfection and shot through with the chill of political unease and the knowledge of how easy it is to bargain away one's soul, it provided a late-career peak for a director who had something to prove. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide

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