Ronin

Often cited as featuring some of the best car chases captured on film, Ronin, still doesn't quite have the loudest reputation in the action genre. Instead, it sits quietly in background, understated, while nursing a coffee in a small Parisian café just as we see Jean Reno doing at the start of this action thriller. This isn't a slick and flashy action flick with a young beautiful cast, no. Dare I say it, Ronin is a middle-aged action film complete with comfortable jackets, some greying in the hair and sensible footwear. 

The story sees an older Robert De Niro brought onboard to steal a highly valued item, that is sought after by multiple gangs, which requires a small crew of talented individuals from various shady backgrounds. However, a traitor somewhere in the skilled team causes plans to change and then the game is on.

Released in 1998 and directed by John Frankenheimer, Ronin is a intentionally drab and gritty looking thriller set during the winter months in France. This is far removed from the world of James Bond in terms of glitzy international action films and it really gives this a suitably tough edge as we see professional killers come into conflict during some very entertaining set pieces. Frankenheimer handles the story with ease during its many twists and turns, and the cast all play their part's perfectly.

The chemistry between De Niro and Reno is particularly great as we see two older men find a friendship in a profession that best suits isolation. It's not something you might expect going into this, nor Michael Lonsdale's medic in a brief appearance painting figurines and explaining what a Ronin is, but it gives Ronin a flavour rarely found in this genre.

I would be remiss though to not devote more time to the car chases which are expertly choreographed and filmed as vehicles charge down narrow streets, knocking over market stalls and clipping wingmirrors. Today an action film of this scale would go straight to streaming and use CGI for much of the action and it would feel stale as a result. But here, it's thrilling to experience with everything caught in camera and adding to that sense of realism. 

There is an argument that the film peaks at the start of the final act during a particularly great car chase but the conclusion still offers enough excitement amongst all the double-crossing to ensure this never drags over its two hour running time. Frankenheimer's career saw him direct many great films as well as some more notorious efforts and this would sadly be what many would consider his last noteworthy film. But it has stood the test of time and has not aged at all in the slightest. The practical action sequences, a sharp screenplay and the aforementioned cast all make this very easy to recommend today.