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Jeff's Review of:
Spy Game

Nov. 21, 2001

2001, 2 hrs 5 min., Rated R for language, some violence and brief sexuality.�Dir: Tony Scott. Cast: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, Stephen Dillane, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Larry Bryggman.

Spy Game stars Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. Need I say more?

Okay, yes I do, since I don't have a One Sentence Movie Reviews page.

Forget Harry Potter fever and whatnot for a bit, I took in more adult fare this afternoon with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. And I came away with a positive review.

Spy Game unfolds like a game, with Redford on play-by-play, sweeping camera movements with accompanying music surround the characters during particularly poignant times, replays serve in the form of flashbacks and people the world over being used as chess pieces.

Then again, pretty much all director Tony Scott does in his films is keep the camera angle changing in order to prevent any sort of simple moment to take place. You will recognize it by checking out his past directing choices: Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide, The Last Boy Scout, Days of Thunder, Top Gun.

Story takes place in 1991, during one day, with many flashbacks, as Pitt is held for espionage and Redford works to get anyone in the CIA to care.

Robert Redford plays a career spook who - as usual in any film nowadays - is about to retire. Brad Pitt, a hero Boy Scout who has a tendency to push the limit in tough situations. Both are just as reliable as always, like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Catherine McCormack makes a smaller appearance as Pitt's 'asset' (an international aid worker). You might remember McCormack as Mel Gibson's wife in Braveheart. But the best supporting player is portrayed by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Redford's stereotypical sassy secretary.

Spy Game really kept my attention. Good suspense, action, acting and shotmaking (although a few times I was taken out o the film to notice what Scott did to put the actors in a time and place).

The verdict:

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