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    		•

    FILMS

    Spy Game (2001)
  • Starring Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack

  • Directed by Tony Scott

    • There were a few things that struck me in watching this film. The first is that Brad Pitt could probably pass as Robert Redford's son. I have no idea why I thought of this, but, well, there you are.

    The second thing that struck me incredibly hard is that Robert Redford is getting old. His face is starting to look like Clint Eastwood's. Craggy and lined and rather looks like a street map for the greater metropolitan area. Up on the big screen—where, in a close-up shot, his head can be 20 or 30 feet wide—those wrinkles look gigantic. And yet, you've got to give Redford credit—most of those Hollywood types run for the plastic surgeon at the first signs of aging, but not Redford. These days, and in this movie, he walks with a swagger and a give-a-shit attitude that says, "That's right. I'm old. I'm getting really freaking old and yet I can still hang with the young guys. I can still kick some ass. So, go take a hike buddy. I'm Robert Redford and you're not." Well, maybe he doesn't say all of that. But it sure was fun to put words in Redford's mouth for a few sentences.

    I think he's joining the ranks of those guys that actually get better-looking with age. Sean Connery is one of those guys. I know a bunch of girls that would much rather have Old Connery than Young Connery. And I bet the same goes for Redford.

    But enough of that, let's talk about the movie.

    Going into the theater, I had no idea that this movie takes place in the past. Not only is it in the past, but much of the movie is a flashback. In 1984 (present-day relative to the characters in the film) Tom Bishop (Pitt) gets captured by the Chinese for sneaking into a prison and attempting to break someone out. He is to be executed in 24 hours.

    Back in Washington, Nathan Muir (Redford) is cleaning his office as it's his last day at the agency. Bishop used to be Muir's protege, and the politics of the situation is such that it doesn't look like the Powers That Be in the U.S. Government are going to try and get Bishop back home. It's more convenient for them to let Bishop die.

    Most of the movie revolves around Muir telling a bunch of CIA suits about Bishop so they can make a decision on the situation—so much of the film is a flashback.

    Which brings us back to the point of me mentioning Redford's age. Bishop and Muir met back in Vietnam when Muir assigned Bishop to assassinate someone. I love the fact that Redford is so confident in his acting that when we flashback to Vietnam, some 15 years earlier, we don't get a different actor playing the part and we don't get Redford with loads of make-up to make him look younger. No, no. We get the exact same looking Redford. They shoot the Vietnam scenes with a lot of soft-lighting and soft-focuses, but that's obviously the director's decision. Redford just doesn't care. I find that awesome. (Some may not find this intrusive to the integrity of the film, but what the hell do those people know?)

    I can hear the dialogue now:

    Director Tony Scott: OK, Bob, let's get you over to the FX department so we can fit you with the latex skin. You've got to look 15 years younger.
    Redford: I played the Great Gatsby, get the hell away from me.
    Scott: OK. Then let's bring Make-Up over and really roll on the pancake to cover up some of those wrinkles.
    Redford: ...
    Scott: Right. OK. How 'bout I just do something on my end, and I'll let you enjoy your coffee.
    Redford: I'm the Sundance Kid!

    So, maybe it didn't go quite like that. But it's obvious that there was little attempt to make Redford look younger. And yet, the film isn't handicapped by the fact.

    This movie involves lots of globe-hopping and spy-trade secrets and rendezvous and things that bring you into the world of spying. At first it looks like it'd be fun, and I thought I'd love to do that. I was ready to walk out of the theater and go spy on other governments. But then I realized that being a spy involves hard decisions, and deceptions, and backstabs, and fear. And badguys with explosives. And goodguys with explosives. And people shooting other people. And friends in trouble.

    Not to sound like a wuss, but I figure writing a review of the movie is much less dangerous. But only slightly.

    This is a good adventure movie with tension and suspense aplenty. Is it the best spy movie ever? Not-hardly. But it's good and fun and worthwhile seeing Redford and his flaking-parchment face. I hope when I get as old as him, my face gets just a messed up.