Ronin (1998)

Lane finds Ronin rather enjoyable overall, especially its multiple outstanding car chases treated as the film's core. He praises Frankenheimer's return to form and realistic action that avoids flashy effects.

Turan calls it an old-fashioned thriller efficiently updated, with tense professionals and satisfying car chases filmed realistically without digital effects. Frankenheimer's fast-moving direction keeps implausible elements from tipping into silliness.

McCarthy sees it as a pleasurable throwback to gritty 1960s international thrillers, with potent action, shifting loyalties and scenic locations holding interest despite thin characters and story. He notes strong performances but wishes for more existential depth.

The film is an old-school Parisian spy-heist that lacks enough plot dynamism to be memorable beyond its car chases, despite solid performances from De Niro and Reno.

The confusingly plotted thriller has promising set-up and strong action sequences from Frankenheimer but is undermined by a weak script and lack of real drama, leading to a recommendation to skip it.

The critic finds the film to be hackneyed genre fluff with a rambling, uninvolving plot, paper-thin characters, and clumsy dialogue, dismissing its pretensions as absurd. The non-digital car chases provide brief fun but ultimately pall, along with the performances and camerawork.

Ebert enjoyed the film for its skill and its silliness, with convincing actors and exciting action that makes little sense. He singles out a quiet scene where De Niro's character instructs on removing a bullet for its funny and touching delivery.

The critic finds the film a strangely flawed but satisfying thriller that mixes action setpieces with moody paranoia. They single out the expertly detailed plotting and car chases for praise while noting the halves do not fully balance.

Brooks compares Ronin to the concurrent release Rounders and finds the Frankenheimer film the stronger of the two. He praises its straight-faced, un-ironic treatment of genre clichés and old-fashioned authenticity.

The critic praises Frankenheimer's top-notch thriller for its gritty professionalism and breathtaking car chases, noting how it makes an action hero of De Niro. An extraordinary cast matches wits impressively in this tense, hard-boiled story.

The critic calls Ronin perfection from beginning to end and a return to gritty, serious action filmmaking. Frankenheimer's direction and the film's intense, realistic car chases are singled out for particular praise.