Spy Game
Review By Clint Morris
 They
might be playing characters in Spy Game, but there's a little
more going on between Robert Redford and Brad Pitt in Tony
Scott's film. Look a little closer and you'll see that the
hardened box office champ of yesterday is passing the torch
of sorts onto his younger counterpart.
Oblivious to the magnitude of sensationalism combined by
their performances, both Pitt and Redford immerse themselves
in their on screen characters whilst unconsciously attempting
to upstage one another in any given scene. Whatever the case,
the-before-and-after shots of A-list Hollywood have picked
an exceedingly pleasurable movie to team for, and judging
by the unassailable Redford in this, he won't be putting out
any Torch flames for some time yet.
Trickling with intelligent detail and polished gruelling
tension, Spy Game is a character drama masquerading in the
form of a overwrought political thriller. Seasoned CIA Agent
Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) is on the verge of retirement,
but just as close as he is too popping the champagne bottle,
his old friend and protégé Tom Bishop (Brad
Pitt) gets himself kidnapped overseas.
With only 24 hours until the Chinese execute Bishop, Nathan
has to outsmart his superiors 'up stairs' so he can get his
friend home safely. Unlike his new generation bosses, Muir
is sickened at the idea of letting Bishop swim with the fishes
just so the agency can keep it's image clean - and so develops
a rescue plan.
Via flashbacks, we learn of the elongated friendship between
mentor and protégé, and the differences that
inevitably saw them cut ties. The film's present-day is 1991,
when a new world order is developing from the ashes of the
cold war. We also travel back to the Vietnam war where Bishop
and Muir first meet, in 70's Berlin where Bishop is assigned
a highly secretive mission, and to a mid-80's date where we
learn of the CIA's extra-curricular activities as assassins.
It's these momentous flashbacks that give us insight and illuminates
why Muir wants to save his former student.
Although a two-man movie, Robert Redford steals the movie.
His Three Days of the Condor-like part of Nathan Muir, is
not only well written, but also better performed thanks to
that cheeky Redford grin, and the ever so likeable charisma
that drips from the man's frame.
Unlike some equally ambitious movies to date - Black Hawk
Down and Hearts in Atlantis, to name but a couple - the characters
are well fleshed out here. None of the one-dimensional robotics
we've seen up to now. Redford's Muir is a complex, but nonetheless
fascinating character, made all the more appealing thanks
to the terrific Redford. And although he is suitably slick
and engaging, Brad Pitt is overshadowed by the giant of Sundance
in nearly every scene they share.
Adding weight to what could have been otherwise token support
players are a mesmerising and suitably sinister Stephen Dillane
(Welcome to Sarajevo) as a heavy at the agency who
longs to tear the respected Muir down, the commanding Larry
Brygmann - memorable as John McClane's boss in Die Hard with
a Vengeance - as the ever so secretive head of operations,
and Braveheart alumni Catherine McCormack suitably innocent,
but suspiciously coy as a target turned love interest for
one of the leads.
Michael Frost Becker and David Arata have penned an exciting
and intelligent thinking man's action movie - with equally
slick director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Enemy of the State) pushing
all the right buttons and flinging the camera at the most
edgy of times.
With all the political twists and turns of a Tom Clancy novel,
Spy Game is one of the most exciting movies of the year; and
it's only your loss if you miss this exciting teaming of the
two kings of Hollywood.
4 out of 5
Spy Game
Australian release: January 24th
Cast: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, Stephen
Dillane, Larry Bryggman, Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Director: Tony Scott.
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