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movie review - Ronin

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is the second time I've seen this, and aside from a couple of movie making shortcuts I noticed this time around, I still think it's an outstanding movie from the points of plot, cast, setting(s), and pacing. It just hooks you in.

The casting in particular was genius. Stellen Starsgard (who played the professor who 'discovers' Matt Damon's character in Good Will Hunting) is always excellent. DeNiro, well, what can I say. But it's spot-on performances from lesser-know members of the cast such as the always under-utilised Sean Bean and (from TV's Third Watch) Skipp Sudduth that keep the thing excellent.

The director is John Frankenheimer, who also did The Manchurian Candidate, which is very worth watching, and The Island of Doctor Maureau, which was awful enough to spawn a number of filler moments in South Park but has had no other lasting benefit whatever.

A favorite. Strongly recommended.