'Spy Game' provides essential
elements of espionage
movie
 By
Jeff Cantwell
Staff Writer
Nathan Muir knows the CIA. He has lied, killed
and used people. He's done bad things, all in the name of the greater
good of the United States.
Every deceit builds into a giant web that has become
his life; a life designed only to play the game.
"Spy Game" follows Muir (Robert Redford)
on his last day at the CIA as he tries to rescue his former protégé
from the Chinese government who will kill him in 24 hours and the U.S.
government wants to let it happen.
The film takes place during little more than a
day, but most of the story is told in flashbacks, developing the relationship
between Muir and his protégé Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt).
Director Tony Scott uses the same grainy camera
style prominent in his last film, "Enemy of the State," and
spins from past to present, in this case 1991, without confusion. Scott
again proves to be a master at character-driven action/suspense films.
Scott provides a few explosions and solid actions
scenes, but "Spy Game" is not the straight-up action flick
that trailers make it seem.
The characters are richly developed through Muir's
discussions with his supervisors about Bishop. Muir and Bishop's relationship
is set up with such precision that it becomes clear why the seemingly
"by-the-books" Muir would break even his own rules, for his friend.
Redford is finally having fun at the movies again.
His character is reminiscent of the excellent role he played in "Sneakers."
He is calm and confident as he cleverly makes his way around the inner
workings of the CIA.
This is Redford’s movie and he knows it, and
while he gets all the fun lines and crafty scenes, he doesn’t seem
to hog the spotlight from his younger co-star.
Pitt plays the young idealistic agent with a rough
edge, yet is also strikingly sympathetic. He feels the burn of having
to use people to serve his own ends, much to his mentor’s annoyance.
Pitt is seen mostly in flashbacks and his relationship
with Redford is the key to the film. From his early days in the army,
to his fallout with Redford over the fate of a woman (Catherine McCormick),
Pitt lets his subtle conscience slip out from under the veil of the
emotionless spy game that Redford has drawn him into.
"Spy Game" is exactly what an espionage
movie should be — slow, subtle and to the point. It draws you into
the twists and turns of a game that has no final inning in sight.
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