Sneakers (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Phil Alden Robinson

Writers (WGA):

Phil Alden Robinson (written by) and
Lawrence Lasker (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

We could tell you what it's about. But then, of course, we'd have to kill you.

Plot:

Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Cryptography | Encryption | License Plate | Blindness

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jo Marr	...	College-Aged Cosmo (as Jojo Marr)
Gary Hershberger	...	College-Aged Bishop
Robert Redford	...	Bishop
Sidney Poitier	...	Donald Crease
David Strathairn	...	Erwin 'Whistler' Emory
Dan Aykroyd	...	Mother
River Phoenix	...	Carl
Bodhi Elfman	...	Centurion S&L Night Guard
Denise Dowse	...	Bank Teller
Hanyee	...	Bank Secretary
Timothy Busfield	...	Dick Gordon
Eddie Jones	...	Buddy Wallace
Time Winters	...	Homeless Man
Mary McDonnell	...	Liz
Jun Asai	...	Piano Prodigy
Donal Logue	...	Dr. Gunter Janek
George Hearn	...	Gregor
Lee Garlington	...	Dr. Elena Rhyzkov
John Shepard	...	Coolidge Institute Guard
Ellaraino	...	Mrs. Crease
Shayna Hollinquist	...	Melissa Crease
Dayna Hollinquist	...	Melissa Crease
Jacqueline Brand	...	Kiev String Quartet
Julie Gigante	...	Kiev String Quartet
Victoria Miskolczy	...	Kiev String Quartet
David Speltz	...	Kiev String Quartet
Leslie Hardy	...	Gregor's Date
John Moio	...	Gregor's Chauffeur
James Craven	...	FBI Agent #1
R.C. Everbeck	...	FBI Agent #2
Ben Kingsley	...	Cosmo
Ernie Tetrault	...	TV Anchorman
Lori Hall	...	NSA Phone Operator
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Dr. Werner Brandes
George Cheung	...	Chinese Restaurant Singer (as George Kee Cheung)
Hayward Soo Hoo	...	Chinese Restaurant Waiter
Michael Kinney	...	Playtronics Desk Guard - Day
Rudy Francis Nemetz	...	Playtronics Desk Guard - Day
Ralph Monaco	...	Playtronics Lobby Guard - Day
Paul Jenkins	...	Playtronics Lobby Guard - Night
Al Foster	...	Playtronics Desk Guard - Night
George Hartmann	...	Playtronics Stairwell Guard
Jeffrey Daniel Phillips	...	Playtronics Perimeter Guard
Michael Boston	...	Playtronics Perimeter Guard
Anthony Winters	...	NSA Agent
Jeff Joy	...	NSA Agent
Amy Benedict	...	NSA Agent Mary
James Earl Jones	...	NSA Agent Bernard Abbott
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roger Callard	...	NSA Agent (uncredited)
Ryal Haakenson	...	Man walking across the lobby (uncredited)
Michael Milhoan	...	Russian Driver (uncredited)
Cheryl Moore	...	College Geek (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Alden Robinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Phil Alden Robinson		(written by) and
Lawrence Lasker		(written by) &
Walter F. Parkes		(written by)

Produced by
William M. Elvin	....	associate producer
Lawrence Lasker	....	producer
Walter F. Parkes	....	producer
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
John Lindley		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Rolf

Casting by
Juel Bestrop
Risa Bramon Garcia

Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein		(as Patrizia Von Brandenstein)

Art Direction by
Dianne Wager

Set Decoration by
Samara Schaffer

Costume Design by
Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	second makeup artist (as Fred Blau)
Tamara Guthrie	....	hair stylist (as Tamara Guthrie-Muro)
Gary Liddiard	....	key makeup artist
Bunny Parker	....	hair stylist (as Bunny Parker-Adamson)

Production Management
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nandi Bowe	....	second second assistant director
Kelly Cantley	....	trainee assistant director
Alan Edmisten	....	second assistant director
William M. Elvin	....	first assistant director
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	second unit director (as Glenn H. Randall Jr.)

Art Department
George Ashton	....	swing gang
John Bankson	....	first assistant property master
Beth Bernstein	....	art department coordinator
Nat Bocking	....	second assistant property master (as David N. Bocking)
Keith Brian Burns	....	set designer
Robert L. Clark	....	paint foreman
Dennis DeWaay	....	construction coordinator (as Dennis DeWay)
Steven E. Fegley	....	construction general foreman (as Steve Fegley)
Andrea Mae Fenton	....	props buyer
Mentor Huebner	....	illustrator
James E. Hurd Jr.	....	swing gang
Steve Kallas	....	construction foreman
Bob Laux	....	labor foreman (as Robert Laux)
Thomas W. Lay Jr.	....	illustrator
Ray Lopez	....	plaster supervisor
Adam Lustig	....	graphic designer
Adam Lustig	....	painter: mural painting
Janine McEuen	....	set dressing assistant
Dexter Miller	....	construction accountant
Don Miloyevich	....	property master
James J. Murakami	....	set designer
David C. Potter	....	lead man
Tommy Samona	....	second lead man
Lisa K. Sessions	....	set dressing assistant
Robert L. Stephen	....	stand-by painter (as Robert Stephen)
Michael P. Sweeney	....	set dresser
Michael P. Sweeney	....	swing gang (as Mike Sweeney)
James E. Tocci	....	set designer
James E. Hurd Jr.	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill Baldwin	....	assistant adr editor
Milton C. Burrow	....	supervising sound editor
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
Scott Burrow	....	sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Blake R. Cornett	....	assistant sound editor
Blake R. Cornett	....	first assistant sound editor
Gordon Davidson	....	sound editor
Steve Dewey	....	additional sound effects (as Stephen Dewey)
Robert W. Harris	....	utility sound
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shelley Rae Hinton	....	adr editor
David L. Horton Jr.	....	foley editor
Jay Kamen	....	supervising adr editor (as Uncle K. Kamen)
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Sean McCormack	....	foley recordist
Dennis McCurdy	....	apprentice sound editor
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Montano)
Karin Roulo	....	foley mixer
Chester Slomka	....	sound editor (as Chester L. Slomka)
Audrey Trent	....	foley artist
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Karen Wanderman	....	assistant sound editor (as Karen L. Wanderman)

Special Effects by
Peter Albiez	....	effectsman (as Peter H. Albiez)
Larz Anderson	....	effectsman
Albert Delgado	....	special effects foreman
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Brett Bentley	....	CG artist
Bennie R. Brothers	....	computer effects
Will Fowler	....	computer effects
Steve Grumette	....	computer effects supervisor
Doug Wolfgram	....	CG artist

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts
Keith Campbell	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts (as Gloria Fioramonti)
Orwin C. Harvey	....	stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts (as Robert Herron)
Larry Holt	....	stunts
Terry James	....	stunts
Melvin Jones	....	stunts
Julius LeFlore	....	stunts
Bill McIntosh	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Jeff Smolek	....	stunts
William Washington	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts
Webster Whinery	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dustin Ault	....	grip
Herb Ault	....	key grip (as Herbert L. Ault)
Camilla Calamandrei	....	second second assistant camera
Tom Cantrell	....	electrician
Richard L. Carden	....	dolly grip (as Rick Carden)
Henry Cline	....	first assistant camera
David Dunbar	....	electrician (as Dave Dunbar)
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Kurt Grossi	....	grip
Mike Hodges	....	rigging grip
Robert Jason	....	gaffer
Lawrence Karman	....	camera operator
Aaron Katz	....	assistant video operator
Kenny King	....	best boy grip (as Ken King)
Henry Kline	....	first assistant camera
Harry R. Lessing	....	video playback operator (as Harry Lessing)
Larry McCarron	....	grip
David Morrison	....	grip
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Jeffrey Petersen)
Jim Pine	....	electrician
Brian T. Pitts	....	second assistant camera
Patrick G. Ralston	....	electrician (as Pat Ralston)
Rod Robertson	....	rigging gaffer
David St. Onge	....	electrician (as Dave St. Onge)
Bill Pelkey	....	electrician: San Francisco (uncredited)
Lou Weinert	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Davia Nelson	....	additional casting: San Francisco
Steve Spiker	....	extras casting
Mary Vernieu	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marie Kaderback	....	wardrobe: women (as Marie A. Kaderback)
Gregory B. Peña	....	wardrobe: men
Hugo Peña	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Tom Allen	....	apprentice editor
Christopher S. Baird	....	first assistant editor
Andi Kasen Bergman	....	apprentice editor
Sandy Brundage	....	negative cutter
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Vicki Shaki Khan	....	associate editor

Music Department
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
Jeff Charbonneau	....	assistant music editor
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Michael Fisher	....	musician
James Flamberg	....	associate music editor (as Jim Flamberg)
Ralph Grierson	....	musician
Jim Henrikson	....	supervising music editor
James Horner	....	musician
Branford Marsalis	....	musician
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Joel C. Peskin	....	musician (as Joel Peskin)
Joe E. Rand	....	assistant music editor
Ian Underwood	....	musician
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Billy G. Arter	....	driver (as Billy Arter)
Tina M. Arter-Duquette	....	transportation dispatcher (as Tina M. Arter)
Ed Arter	....	transportation coordinator
Ronald B. Dinson Sr.	....	transportation captain (as Ronald B. Dinson)
George Hartmann	....	driver
Cary Kelley	....	transportation co-captain
David Menapace	....	driver (as Dave Menapace)
Gordon Smith	....	driver
Mark Wescott	....	driver (as Mark Westcott)
Ed Wirth	....	driver (as Eddie Wirth)
Anthony Muto Jr.	....	picture vehicles (uncredited)

Other crew
Len Adleman	....	consultant: mathematics (as Prof. Len Adleman)
Nancy Aprile	....	assistant production auditor (as Nancy C. Aprile)
Fabiana Arrastia	....	assistant production coordinator
Steve Beeson	....	production auditor
Jamale Case	....	first aid
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Susan Fanara	....	assistant: Mr. Lasker and Mr. Parkes
Andrew Francis Fenady	....	production assistant
John Fluke	....	electronic equipment provider
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Shauna Hanley	....	production assistant
Ricky Jay	....	sleight of hand consultant
Judith Kahn	....	title designer
Janet Lonsdale	....	assistant accountant
Robert Bruce Moore	....	craft service
Stefanie Pleet	....	location liaison: San Francisco (as Stephanie Lee Pleet)
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
Eva M. Schroeder	....	assistant location manager
Margaret Solow	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson
John Strauchs	....	security consultant
Cynthia Upstill	....	script supervisor
Lisa J. Watters	....	production coordinator
Roni Ziemba	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson
Billy A. Fox	....	location scout (uncredited)
Tom Ingersoll	....	location scout (uncredited)
Sophia Lansky	....	additional voices (uncredited)
Peter Riga	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Jonathan Borofsky	....	thanks
Robbie Conal	....	thanks
Sonia Delaunay	....	thanks
Cynthia Drennon	....	thanks
Helen Frankenthaler	....	thanks
Paul Gray	....	thanks
Richard Gray	....	thanks
Richard Green	....	thanks
Robert Mapplethorpe	....	thanks
Dan McCleary	....	thanks
Tatsuo Miyajima	....	thanks
Peter Schwartz	....	special thanks
Mark Stock	....	thanks
Donald Sultan	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2000) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1995) (Finland) (TV)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at
• Columbia Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual references.

Runtime:

126 min | Canada:118 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:12 (original rating) | Australia:PG | Netherlands:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #31961) | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

James Earl Jones' character, Bernard Abbott, was named after Robert Abbott, a charismatic technical consultant for the film. In addition to being about the same age and complexion as Jones, Bob designed the first time-sharing (multi-user) operating system for the Cray CDC-6600, the predecessor of the Y-MP seen in the film. He is also often referred to as the "Father of Information Security" by seasoned veterans of the computing industry.

Goofs:

Plot holes: If Carl Abegast can get to Cosmo's offices from the ceiling ducts to (help) save Bishop and Liz at the end, why did the Sneakers need to get the voice security password information from Werner Brandes? They could have just sneaked into the offices from the lobby bathroom as does Abegast.

Quotes:

College-Aged Bishop: Richard Nixon's personal checking account is in here!
College-Aged Cosmo: Oh, this is a challenge. Marty, we have to find someone truly worthy to give his money to.
College-Aged Bishop: How about... the National Organization to Legalize Marijuana?
College-Aged Cosmo: Perfect!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (#6.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Corcovado

Wonderfully scored, thinking ahead of its time . . .

Despite its relative obscurity, Sneakers is quickly becoming a cult favorite of the internet generation. It's a perfect blend of romance, tech and adventure that highlights the increasing importance of information. The always beautiful Mary McDonnell as Liz doesn't hurt, either. The soundtrack is arguably the best of James Horner's film scores pre-dating Braveheart, with an ethereal jazzy feel that sets the mood from the opening credits.

For an early nineties movie, Sneakers was remarkably forward thinking in its script and plot. Many of its themes have only become more relevant with the flowering of the data network. All in all a great film for those of you who enjoy flicks like Hudson Hawk or Mission Impossible.