Spy Game Movie Review 2001

It's 1991, and cagey veteran spy Nathan Muir (Redford) is on the verge of retirement, when he discovers that former protege Tom Bishop (Pitt) is to be executed in a Chinese prison for espionage. Muir has 24 hours to rescue Bishop, and to do it, he must first outwit his CIA superiors, who would rather lose the rogue agent than risk damaging an international trade agreement. Story's core is implausible but script is dense with information and drama, and the ultra-brisk editing leaves little time to consider the inadequacies. The use of geopolitical atrocities to add weight to a romantic subplot between Bishop and a British foreign-aid worker (McCormack) feels forced and, at times, insensitive. But Redford's cool and sarcastic performance, recalling his role in "Three Days of the Condor," makes up for some deficiencies and anchors the film nicely.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 127 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Spies & Espionage, Impending Retirement, Flashback, A Day in the Life. . ., Rescue Missions, Men in Prison, China, Period Piece: 1970s, Period Piece: 1980s

Screenplay

Michael Frost Beckner, David Arata

Cast

Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, Stephen (Dillon) Dillane, Larry Bryggman, Michael Paul Chan, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, David Hemmings, Matthew Marsh, Todd Boyce, Charlotte Rampling

Cinematography

Dan Mindel

Director

Tony Scott

Music

Harry Gregson-Williams

Other

Simon Kaye, Christian Wagner, Kevin Phipps, Louise Frogley, Chris Seagers, Norris Spencer

Producer

Douglas Wick, Marc Abraham, Beacon Pictures, Universal Pictures