REVIEW: RONIN [1998]

REVIEW# 27
MOVIE : RONIN [1998]
Genre : Crime/Thriller
Cast: Robert De Niro,Jean Reno,Natasha McElhone
Director:John Frankenheimer
IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Deeps rating:7/10
Verdict : A hunt for a mysterious case that keeps eluding them.Good action and a good thriller.

Sam [Robert De Niro],a retired US intelligence officer meets with other three ex-military officers Larry and Vincent[Jean Reno] in a small bar in Paris to join with an Irish operative Deidre[Natasha McElhone] for the hunt of a mysterious suitcase which will otherwise fall into the hands of Russians.They follow the instructions of Diedre who in fact is instructed by her master.They manages to track down the case in the city of Nice.After a well planned operation and great chase to bring down the enemies ,they finally get hold of that case.But to their shock the case had a bomb planted in it and all of them have a narrow escape from the scene.

               They come to learn that a guy called Gregor had stolen the case much before and he was planning to sell them to Russians.They hunt down Gregor by tracking his phone,but once again after a real fight,they once again loses the case and fails to catch hold of Gregor.Adding to their distress,they find that Diedre escapes taking Gregor along with her and her master Seamus,who is the main brain behind all this.Larry gets killed in the opeartion and Sam gets wounded.Both Sam and Vincent decides to take matters into their hand and tries to hunt down Diedre and Seamus,and also get hold of that dark case.

                  They finally arrive at the scene where Gregor,who escapes from their custody,plans to make the deal with the Russians.But this time not only the two, but the Irish group of Seamons and Deidre also turn up for the same case.Matters look very difficult and workaday for Sam and Vincent.
                  The plot of the movie is very interesting and so is its locales and action.But the car chases,even though well edited and choreographed,are just too long that makes it tiring,just as its drivers.Climax is just too stretched out,that one really feels the suspense about the case to be over as soon as possible.This movie resembles an idol carved out of snow,which would have been more attractive if it was polished better by scratching off some unwanted edges.And just like the snow doll,its attractive to see inside the hall,but once taken out melts away leaving nothing behind.This movie is not for your Archive collection.But its a onetime watch.
                 Robert De Niro saves the movie from sinking,by his unmatched appeal and flair.Jean Russo is a perfect fit as Vincent and Natasha McElhone is a revelation.This worthy cast is the heart and soul of this movie.

I am Deepak Unnikrishnan and I will be back with another movie from old school,tomorrow.

TIP OF THE DAY: FORTUNE FAVORS THE PREPARED MIND.