Ronin [Collector's Edition] [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

John Frankenheimer directed this $20 million international action thriller from a screenplay by Richard Weisz (pseudonym for David Mamet) and J.D. Zeik. In Paris, Irish organizer Deidre (Natascha McElhone) assembles a team to grab a mysterious briefcase from criminals. They are never told who hired them or the true identity of their targets. The hired specialists: Former CIA officer Sam (Robert De Niro), former Euro intelligence agent Vincent (Jean Reno), German electronics expert Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), driver Larry (Skip Sudduth), and British weapons wrangler Spence (Sean Bean). After a Seine shootout, the action moves to the South of France, with a recon mission in Cannes, and a chase that brings everyone to Nice. Inevitable betrayals ensue, along with more pursuits. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV, Color
• Subtitle: French, Spanish, English
• Features:
  • cc Disc 1: Audio commentary with director John Frankenheimer
  • Alternate ending
  • Disc 2:
  • Original Venice film festival interviews with Robert De Niro, Jean Reno and Natascha McElhone
  • "Through the Lens" with director photography Robert Fraisse
  • "Ronin" Filming in the Fast Lane" Making-of documentary
  • "Natascha McElhone: An actor's process" featurette
  • "In the Cutting Room With Tony Gibbs" featurette
  • "Composing the Ronin Score" featurette
  • "The Driving of Ronin" featurette
  • Animated photo gallery

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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