Positively Unapologetic Film Reviews

How do you pick a movie to watch, enjoy, review, and recommend after seeing the brutal events that have plagued our way of life these past couple of weeks?  How do you pick a movie that honors not only those that were killed senselessly for simply doing the right thing, but also honors a legend such as Robert Redford?  Robert Redford died last week at the age of 89.  Our parents grew up watching him in classics such as The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. We grew up watching him in films like The Natural, Indecent Proposal, and The Horse Whisperer. Hell!  Gen-Z’ers have spent their lives seeing him in the Pete’s Dragon remake, The Old Man and the Gun, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier!  How does one choose?  Fortunately, Robert Redford starred in a film in 2001 that deals with characters being brutally punished for doing the right thing.  The film in question is Tony Scott’s Spy Game.

(COMMENT: Some very mild spoilers in this section) Written by master of political intrigue and espionage fiction, Michael Frost Beckner, Spy Game’s plot revolves around  two officers with the Central Intelligence Agency, one who’s about to retire (yupp….Redford), and the other his protégé (played by the incredibly talented Brad Pitt. The two men face the challenge of their careers when one goes off the reservation to right a wrong in China, and the other has to find a way to get him home before the Chinese government executes him for espionage. The film tells several stories in a pseudo-linear format. Redford’s character explains key events he and Pitt’s character were involved in over the years through a series of flashbacks, but simultaneously the China plotline unfolds. (COMMENT: I might have gotten my wife to watch this film by saying “Brad Pitt gets beat up in a Chinese prison throughout the film….for those that have seen it, you know I did not lie!)

Redford and Pitt are tried and proven actors.  The pair of them in a film should be a selling point (COMMENT: Unless you’re the woman I married…then it’s an almost guaranteed “watch without her” flick).  However, the supporting cast includes Stephen Dillane, Larry Bryggman, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Catherine McCormack.  The actors all portray their parts with such precision, that the scenes dealing with government bureaucracy actually cause me to drink more! (COMMENT: No….I did not drink a lot when I worked for the Defense Department, but believe me…..I wanted to!) Jean-Baptiste portrays Redford’s secretary, and her scenes are some of the most memorable of the genre.  She and Redford just click as though they really did work together for many years! Bryggman brings home the chimichangas as Redford’s very politically motivated supervisor at the Agency. However, his character is a veteran of the job himself…unlike the quintessential weasel of the group portrayed by the great Stephen Dillane. (COMMENT: I tend to roll my eyes at his character almost as much as I used to roll my eyes at summer interns at the Pentagon)

A consistently action-packed feel (COMMENT: like I said….Tony Scott.  He’s not exactly known for chick-flicks), the film has very few gunshots and explosions. This is not a Spy Film for those that think the CIA and MI6 operate like n the Mission: Impossible, Jason Bourne, and James Bond films. But, Tony Scott brings his signature excitement, fast-paced quick cuts, and energetic music with a storyline of intrigue. Tony Scott enlisted the great Harry Gregson-Williams, who is often confused for Hans Zimmer, to do the score.  He’s known for some heavy hitting scores for Denzel films like The Equalizer and Man on Fire. (COMMENT: And for my nerds out there….he also did the music for the Metal Gear Solid games!) Definitely a film and soundtrack that gets the blood rushing. To be truly positively unapologetic, I have to say this is the closest thing to a John LeCarre novel Hollywood has ever produced.

As I have mentioned previously, my degree is actually in Chinese studies with a focus on the language.  And through that, I also took a lot of studies on chinese culture, chinese history. Chinese politics, etc. Naturally, I really enjoyed the idea of the adversary country in the story being China for once. (COMMENT: Let’s face it…Hollywood does not have the cojones to jab at China.) The film doesn’t really villainize China, but it paints a very accurate portrayal of U.S.-China relations and really drives the point home that that they are two very different government systems.  Here you say something that offends someone, you shake hands and move on (COMMENT: Or as of late, get shot in the head by a lunatic).  In China, you get arrested, go before a military court where you get ZERO say, and end up in a dank rodent infested prison and have a few conversations with PLA fists ….if you’re really unlucky.  If you’re lucky they’ll just put a 9mm slug in your head. (COMMENT: That being said, I actually visited China in College and had the time of my life!  Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xi Tang are fantastic cities to visit! And there’s all the MSG you can eat!)

I mentioned earlier this film reminded me of a John LeCarre novel.  It doesn’t remind me of any particular one, but the political and espionage intrigue, the pace, the different types of personalities, etc are what really bring that feel.  These types of stories thrive on the whole idea of gray area in the espionage trade.  It’s difficult to tell who the actual villains are, and who and what the true right thing is (meaning right from a morality/human perspective or right by the rules/law).  Robert Redford even has a fantastic scene where he confronts his boss and says “Do you remember when we could tell the good guys from the bad guys?” That line drives the point home in the story that the two main characters are suffering for doing what’s right.

Very much the dark side of international politics and international law, fantastic acting, fascinating storyline, brilliant script, and Tony Scott’s signature style…Spy Game has been one of my go-to’s for almost 25 years. Some people might call it slow. Others probably call it a fantastic piece. Others might say. “meh i prefer james bond emission impossible” and that is totally fine. With that I invite you to observe and honor Robert Redford’s legacy by viewing a lesser played film in his career. As always, let me know what you think.

I’ll close this out by saying this film was chosen in part because of the senseless violence that has been happening in our country against those simply trying to do some good and others interpret those actions as hostile…which is a theme reflected in the film. That being said, our thoughts and prayers go to not only Robert Redford’s family, but Charlie Kirk’s family as well.