This piece accompanies the “Movies I Like” YouTube series linked below. The character in the video is intended as parody.
I don’t know what it is, but the idea of Robert DeNiro in an action movie feels wrong even when you know the outcome can be oh so right. It’s obvious DeNiro can handle the intensity of a drama (à la The Godfather Part II) and transform his judging scowl into a comedic vehicle (à la Meet the Parents), so him seamlessly fitting into a draction (translation: I Frankensteined “drama” and “action”) should be a minimal stretch, if one at all. Heat is a masterpiece that showcases A-list actors throwing haymakers scene after scene only to frost it off with a legendary gunfight. This isn’t your Stallone, Willis, or Schwarzenegger carving paths of destruction across the screen; it’s a heavyweight dramatic talent using a fine chisel to create intensity and story that gets rewarded with an explosive finish. So yes, watch Heat, and now that you have an idea about DeNiro’s action chops, let’s talk about the film Ronin, which is another darn good movie that I like.
Ronin released in 1998 and is directed by John Frankenheimer (Reindeer Games, The Manchurian Candidate). The word “ronin” means: a vagrant samurai without a master. In the film, the story of the ronin goes that a samurai failed to protect his master and was then forced to wander, master-less, wearing the titular shameful label. Still pursuing an honorable life, the ronin seeks revenge of those responsible for his master’s death. As the film’s plot progresses and nuggets of backstory come to light, it becomes apparent that DeNiro embodies the spirit of the ronin; he is a master-less mercenary eventually driven to seek revenge against those who betrayed him. Giving this story life, the top-tier cast includes the aforementioned DeNiro, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, Natasha McElhone, and Jonathan Pryce. What starts off as a group of freelancers coming together to conduct a clandestine transaction and heist, Ronin evolves into a taught storyline of betrayal, espionage, and revenge.
A highly regarded film perhaps best known for its intensely intricate and claustrophobic car chase sequences, Rotten Tomatoes has Ronin sitting at a 69% critic rating and an 80% audience score. Personally, I am in the higher, 80% camp because this film flies across the screen with great action and develops each character into someone you invest in as a viewer. Perhaps the only drawback to the film is the lack of setup. When the movie starts, you almost have to wonder if you missed the preceding twenty minutes since things are already moving and the characters quickly fall in step with their interactions. Ronin does provide breadcrumbs to piece together backstories, motivations, and other information you may need to know, but if you are not patient or not paying attention, you will be stuck with questions throughout the film. While the viewer will naturally begin to pull for certain characters to survive and emerge victorious, the constant intrigue never allows viewers to build trust with any character, even DeNiro. Betrayal in Ronin happens suddenly and often after a smile.
While Ronin’s story is captivating (often from just trying to keep up), the real star and reason to watch the film is the vehicular action. A lot of the movie occurs behind the wheel on crowded European streets. Sporty coupes are pushed to their limits by skilled drivers while bullets and explosions try to force one wrong move to turn the high-speed carriages into flying death capsules. The effort and exertion of high-speed navigation crashes against the visible calm of the vehicles’ inhabitants. They always seem to know which turns to make and which maneuvers provide advantage. There are, of course, the typical henchman fodder who dare interject in the film’s proceedings. Despite dour visages conveying determination and lethality, they are quickly dispatched as if they are mere insects splattering against the windscreen. The chases and driving action are Ronin’s premier element that give the film a legacy and viewers a reason to watch more than once.
I started talking about DeNiro’s action chops by showcasing Heat only because Heat released before Ronin, which otherwise would be the perfect showcase of DeNiro’s gravitas in the action genre. While DeNiro could be enough draw, Ronin shines through underworld intrigue, mysterious personal backgrounds, and the vehicular action. This is classy vehicular warfare, not glossy Fast and Furious ridiculousness. Cars are deftly navigating narrow roads while gunmen precariously hang out windows firing automatic weapons and rocket launchers. It is refined. It is fun. It is entertaining. Ronin is a movie I like; maybe you’ll like it too.
HobbyScope 