Ronin (1998)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

J.D. Zeik (story)
J.D. Zeik (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Your ally could become your enemy

Plot:

A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians.

Plot Keywords:

Case | Suitcase | Russian | Irish | Ex KGB

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Sam
Jean Reno	...	Vincent
Natascha McElhone	...	Deirdre
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Gregor
Sean Bean	...	Spence
Skipp Sudduth	...	Larry
Michael Lonsdale	...	Jean-Pierre
Jan Triska	...	Dapper Gent
Jonathan Pryce	...	Seamus O'Rourke
Ron Perkins	...	Man with the Newspaper
Féodor Atkine	...	Mikhi
Katarina Witt	...	Natacha Kirilova
Bernard Bloch	...	Sergi
Dominic Gugliametti	...	Clown Ice Skater
Alan Beckworth	...	Clown Ice Skater
Daniel Breton	...	Sergi's Accomplice
Amidou	...	Man at Exchange (as Amidou Ben Messaoud)
Tolsty	...	The 'Boss'
Gérard Moulévrier	...	Tour Guide (as Gérard Moulevrier)
Lionel Vitrant	...	The 'Target'
Vincent Schmitt	...	Arles Messenger
Léopoldine Serre	...	Arles Little Girl
Lou Maraval	...	Arles Little Girl
Frédéric Schmalzbauer	...	German Tour Guide
Julia Maraval	...	Girl Hostage
Laurent Spielvogel	...	Tourist in Nice
Ron Jeremy	...	Fishmonger (scenes deleted) (as Ron Hiatt)
Steve Suissa	...	Waiter in Nice
Katia Tchenko	...	Woman Hostage
Dyna Gauzy	...	Little Screaming Girl
Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux	...	Little Girl
Amanda Spencer	...	Little Girl
Dimitri Rafalsky	...	Russian Interpreter
Vladimir Tchernine	...	Russian Mechanic
Gérard Touratier	...	Ice Rink Security Guard
Cyril Prentout	...	Mikhi's Bodyguard
Henry Moati	...	Bartender
Christophe Maratier	...	Armed Police Officer
Pierre Forest	...	CRS Captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nader Boussandel	...	Weapon seller (uncredited)
Lee Delong	...	(uncredited)
Christine Musset	...	Natacha Kirilova's Assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
John Frankenheimer

Writing credits
J.D. Zeik		(story)
J.D. Zeik		(screenplay) and
David Mamet		(screenplay) (as Richard Weisz)

Produced by
Paul Kelmenson	....	executive producer
Frank Mancuso Jr.	....	producer
Ethel Winant	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Elia Cmiral

Cinematography by
Robert Fraisse		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs		(as Tony Gibbs)

Casting by
Margot Capelier
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by
Michael Z. Hanan

Art Direction by
Gérard Viard

Set Decoration by
Robert Le Corre

Costume Design by
May Routh

Makeup Department
Jean-Charles Bachelier	....	key hair stylist
Fabienne Bressan	....	key hair stylist
Ilona Herman	....	hairdresser: Mr. De Niro
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist: Mr. De Niro
Gary Hood	....	prosthetics makeup artist
Gary Hood	....	special makeup effects
Paul Le Marinel	....	key makeup artist
Jane Milon	....	hair stylist
Liliane Rametta	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Claude Albouze	....	unit production manager
Dimitri Foresta	....	assistant production manager
Derek Kavanagh	....	unit production manager
Jérôme Servant	....	assistant unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Artur	....	second second assistant director
Fanny Aubrespin	....	second assistant director
Michel Cheyko	....	first assistant director
Luc Etienne	....	assistant director: second unit
Jordane LaFourcade	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Gilles Allou	....	construction foreman
Ted Boonthanakit	....	storyboard artist
Pierre Boudier	....	construction foreman
Jean-Claude Bourdin	....	first assistant art director
Jean-Michel Ducourty	....	first assistant art director
Patrick Dufau	....	lead man
Marc Flouquet	....	lead set designer
Jean-Paul Gaillot	....	construction coordinator
Jacky Hardouin	....	carpenter
Patrick Jamot	....	stand-by painter
Bruno Lefebvre	....	set dresser
Joëlle Meffre	....	art department coordinator
Claude Périnet	....	paint foreman
Gilbert Piéri	....	property master
Gilles Piéri	....	assistant property master
Laurent Piron	....	first assistant art director
Yves Seigneuret	....	set dresser
Christian Vallat	....	first assistant art director
Michel Vialla	....	assistant property master
Yvan Hart	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Michel Rollant	....	property buyer (uncredited)
Valérie Rozanes	....	trainee (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jim Albert	....	sound re-recording engineer
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Bernard Bats	....	production sound recordist
Joe Bosco	....	adr recordist (as Joseph Bosco)
David Boulton	....	adr mixer: New York
Pierre-Yves Bruneel	....	boom operator
Rubén Domingo	....	assistant sound editor (as Reuben Domingo)
Robert Fitzgerald	....	supervising sound effects editor
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist
Alexandra Gonzales	....	adr editor
Alexandra Gonzales	....	dialogue editor
John Keating	....	consultant: DTS
Edmund J. Lachmann	....	adr editor
Edmund J. Lachmann	....	dialogue editor
Mike Le Mare	....	sound designer (as Mike Le-Mare)
Mike Le Mare	....	supervising sound editor (as Mike Le-Mare)
Steve Livingston	....	sound effects editor
David Marcus	....	assistant sound editor
Stewart Nelson	....	sound effects editor (as Steward Nelson)
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Andrew Patterson	....	foley editor
Brian Pierret	....	sound recordist
Eric Potter	....	additional sound effects recordist
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist: New York
Richard D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rich Rogers)
Hari Ryatt	....	supervising adr editor
Matthias Schmitz	....	assistant sound editor (as Matt Teck)
Brady Schwartz	....	foley editor (as Brady A. Schwartz)
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer
Karola Storr	....	supervising foley editor
Fabien Strulovici	....	cable person
Christina Tucker	....	foley mixer
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer (uncredited)
Steve Kohler	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Georges Demétrau	....	special effects coordinator
Denis Duplex	....	special effects foreman
Alain Couty	....	special effects (uncredited)
Peter Hawkins	....	assistant makeup effects (uncredited)
Jason McCameron	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark Breakspear	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Sandy DellaMarie	....	digital production coordinator (uncredited)
Thierry Delobel	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Thomas Duval	....	compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Matt Linder	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Antoine Simkine	....	visual effects executive producer: Duboi (uncredited)

Stunts
Jean-Louis Airola	....	stunts
Gilbert Bataille	....	stunt driver
Alain Brochery	....	stunts
Guy Chasseuil	....	stunt driver
Cyrille Dufaut	....	stunt driver
Joe Dunne	....	physical stunt coordinator
Dominique Fouassier	....	assistant physical stunt coordinator
Alain Guerillot	....	stunts (as Alain Guérillot)
Jean-Pierre Jarier	....	stunt driver (as Jean-Pierre Jarrier)
Jean-Claude Lagniez	....	car stunt coordinator
Philippe Lazoore	....	stunts
Marc Mercier	....	stunts
Michel Neugarten	....	stunt driver
Catherine Robert	....	stunts
Patrick Ronchin	....	car stunt technical coordinator
Sébastien Seveau	....	stunt driver
Frédéric Vallet	....	stunts
Rémi Canaple	....	stunts (uncredited)
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunts (uncredited)
Yan Dron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Jarier	....	stunt double: Robert De Niro (uncredited)
Jean-Claude Lagniez	....	stunt double: Robert De Niro (uncredited)
Jean-Claude Lagniez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Michel Neugarten	....	stunt double: Natascha McElhone (uncredited)
Cyril Raffaelli	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Olivier Vitrant	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Miguel Allo	....	video assist operator
Eric Bialas	....	first assistant camera
Patrick Camboulive	....	still photographer
David Crone	....	Steadicam operator
David Crone	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Elodie Delettre	....	camera loader
Alain Dondin	....	assistant lighting technician
Gilles Floquet	....	second company grip
Pierre Garnier	....	dolly grip
Alain Herpe	....	first assistant camera
Jean-Claude LeBras	....	chief lighting technician (as Jean-Claude Le Bras)
Gilbert Lecluyse	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Berto)
Jean-Marie Lhomme	....	second assistant camera
Jean-Pierre Mas	....	key grip
David Nissen	....	second assistant camera
Charlet Recors	....	aerial camera operator
Éric Brun	....	additional first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Dominique Delguste	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Henri Habans	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Philippe Houdart	....	camera operator: third camera (uncredited)
Clyde Miller	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Frédéric North	....	pilot: camera helicopter (uncredited)
Gil Pannetier	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Supe	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michele Badrutt	....	extras casting
Marie-Sylvie Caillierez	....	extras casting
Fabienne Dubois	....	extras casting
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Sue Jones	....	casting: Great Britain
Mercedes Kelso	....	casting associate (as Mercedes Danforth)
Elizabeth Lang	....	casting associate (as Elizabeth Lang Fedrick)
Frederic Caillierez	....	assistant extras casting (uncredited)
Gérard Lyon	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Dunsford	....	set costumer (as Anne Dunsford-Varenne)
Alan Flyng	....	key costumer
Karen Muller Serreau	....	dresser: Mr. De Niro (as Karen Muller-Serreau)
Judy Shrewsbury	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Dale Caldwell	....	color timer
Francesca Emerson	....	assistant editor
Sherrye Gibbs	....	assistant editor
C.J. Hsu	....	apprentice editor
Rose-Marie Lausson	....	assistant editor
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein	....	negative cutter
Raphaël Péaud	....	assistant editor
Gino Pucci	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Thomas Bartke	....	assistant music editor
Mike Flicker	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Nick Ingman	....	orchestrator
John Whynot	....	music mixer
John Whynot	....	score recordist
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader
John Bell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Matt Friedman	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Jivan Gasparyan	....	musician: duduk (uncredited)
Kevin Townend	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Eric Aufèvre	....	transportation coordinator
Emmanuel Rigaut	....	transportation captain
Ghislain Le Guisquet	....	picture car (uncredited)
Olivier Suffert	....	production driver: Skipp Sudduth & Katarina Witt (uncredited)

Other crew
Jean-Marc Abbou	....	location manager
Michèle Abitbol	....	unit publicist
Alain Agostini	....	location manager
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Alexander Arbatt	....	dialogue coach: Ms. Witt
Carine Barcelo	....	assistant accountant
Catherine Barrès	....	assistant location manager
Alan Beckworth	....	ice skating choreographer: clown act
Sandra Benhamou	....	production secretary
Xavier Bouraoui	....	production assistant
Régis Brun	....	location manager
David Campi-Lemaire	....	key set production assistant
Laurent Chiomento	....	assistant location manager
Anne Costerg	....	production assistant
Yann Cuinet	....	production assistant
Bruno Daveux	....	production assistant
Lucrezia Dillon-Corneck	....	assistant: Mr. Hanan
Kim Doan	....	production coordinator
Alain Dominiecki	....	assistant accountant
Laetitia Dom	....	production secretary
Sophie Drouin	....	production accountant
Dimitri Foresta	....	production assistant
Christophe Gabbiati	....	assistant armorer
Mick Gould	....	technical advisor
Gerry Grennell	....	dialogue coach: Ms. McElhone
Jacques Grousset	....	caterer
Laurence Guérault	....	assistant: Mrs. Winant
Stephan Guerri	....	production assistant
Dominic Gugliametti	....	ice skating choreographer: clown act
Fabienne Guicheneuy	....	craft service
Patrice Guillain	....	assistant armorer
Margo Hunt	....	assistant: Mr. Frankenheimer
Cedric Kron	....	medical advisor
Dominique Lefèvre	....	travel coordinator
Christophe Maratier	....	armorer
Colette Martin	....	assistant accountant
François Mathieu	....	production assistant
Flore Michiels	....	assistant: Mr. Frankenheimer
Sophie Mollier	....	first aid
André Noël	....	animal trainer
Josephine Olive-O'Neill	....	assistant accountant
Franklin Pedrosa	....	production assistant
Patrizia Pierangeli	....	dialogue coach: Mr. Bloch
Fabien Pondevaux	....	location scout
Léon Rey	....	production assistant
Itaka Schlubach	....	unit publicist
Claudia Schon Maier	....	assistant: Mr. Mancuso Jr. (as Claudia Schön-Maier)
Ron Shillingford	....	copyist
Cindy Stuart	....	ice skating choreographer: Ms. Witt
Claudio Todeschini	....	dialogue coach: Mr. Bean
Sylvain Truchot	....	production assistant
Fredéric Vallejo	....	first aid
Bruno Vignier	....	location manager
Jenni Villegas	....	executive assistant: Mr. Mancuso Jr.
Cameron Watson	....	dialogue coach: Mr. Reno
Jonathan Wolf	....	production accountant
Jimmy Zelinger	....	title designer
Frederic Bacchi	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jeremy Bau	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Anne Bernard	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Patrick Boshart	....	location scout (uncredited)
Aria Noelle Curzon	....	adr artist (uncredited)
Sophia Lansky	....	additional voices (uncredited)
Sophia Lansky	....	dialect coach: Russian (uncredited)
Nathalie Radovic	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Whynot	....	synthesizer programmer (uncredited)

Thanks
Jeff Robbins	....	thanks
Bernard Tschumi	....	thanks

Production Companies

• FGM Entertainment (as An FGM Entertainment Production)
• United Artists Corporation (as A United Artists Corporation Ltd. Production)
• United Artists (presents) (as United Artists Pictures)

Distributors

• United Artists (1998) (worldwide) (all media)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (UK) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD) (special edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2001) (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• SBS6 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mackey/Sandrich Casting  casting
• Big Time Picture Company  post-production facilities
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as Deluxe)
• Directors Sound & Editorial Services  foley recorded at (as Directors Sound - Burbank, CA)
• Four Media Company  adr recorded at (as Four Media Company - Burbank, CA)
• Four Media Company  re-recorded at (as Four Media Company - Burbank, CA)
• Laboratoires Éclair  thanks (as Eclair Laboratories)
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Metro Voices  choir
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals (as Pacific Title / Mirage)
• Panavision  filmed on
• Sound One Corporation  adr recorded at (as Sound One - New York)
• Studios CTS  score recording studio (as CTS Studios, Wembley, England)
• Transpalux  lighting
• United Artists Corporation  author: Berne Convention
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack available on (as Varèse Sarabande Compact Discs)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and some language.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | USA:R (certificate #35655) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Brazil:12 | Brazil:14 (DVD re-rating) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Ireland:15 | Italy:T | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Iceland:16 | Denmark:15

Filming Locations:

Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

FGM Entertainment

Trivia:

80 automobiles were destroyed during filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the hunt in the amphitheatre, the gun in Sam's hand disappears and reappears.

Quotes:

Spence: [in French] Don't make any sudden moves. Just because we're buying guns doesn't mean we didn't bring any.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Girl Next Door (1999)

Soundtrack:

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18

A throwback to old-style espionage thrillers, with an unexplained plot but plenty of enjoyable action.

Watching Ronin is like going 25 years back in time. The European locations, the cold and cynical characters, the deliberately ambiguous and serpentine plot, the car chases, the treachery.... all these are the standard ingredients of those twisty spy flicks that were ten-a-penny in the late '60s and early '70s. And who better to direct this retro-thriller than John Frankenheimer, the man behind such genre masterpieces as The Manchurian Candidate and Seven Days In May?

A group of mercenaries gather in a Parisian warehouse. They don't know each other, and they don't particularly know why they've been summoned.... other than the fact that they're about to be offered a job worth a considerable amount of money. Among the group is Sam (Robert De Niro), an American "ronin" (the name once given to masterless Japanese samurai-warriors who used to wander across the land offering themselves as hired swords). Others include Frenchman Vincent (Jean Reno), English weapons expert Spence (Sean Bean), East European electronics specialist Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard) and ace driver Larry (Skip Sudduth). The team has been brought together by Irish revolutionary Deidre (Natascha McElhone), who eventually reveals to them that their task is to get hold of a mysterious silver briefcase. They are not told what is in the briefcase, merely that if they want to get their hands on their money then they must steal the said briefcase from a team of ruthless agents currently guarding it.

Throughout its running time Ronin keeps its plot very secretive (even at the end we never learn WHAT was actually in the briefcase). In some ways, this makes the story intriguing but it also causes a certain degree of dissatisfaction as many of the loose ends are still left untied as the final credits roll. De Niro gives a game performance as the morally complex "hero", and Reno backs him up splendidly in yet another of his charismatic, slightly villainous roles. The big revelation is McElhone, a relative newcomer, who holds her own with all these powerhouse stars without looking at all daunted. The action is excitingly shot, especially the film's regular car chases and shootouts. It's nice to see genuinely hair-raising stunt work being used to achieve the effectiveness of these action sequences, as opposed to the usual '90s dependency on digital trickery. Check out also the amazing scene in which De Niro has to cut a bullet from his own stomach, using a mirror and a sharp knife! While Ronin might be a throwback to the films of yesteryear, with a story every bit as murky and "cloak-and-dagger" as the old films it resembles, it still comes across as an enjoyable and pacy piece of entertainment.