Spy Game

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">cast : </span>robert redford, brad pitt<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">direction :</span>tony scott<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">rating :</span> ***<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img height="112" width="168" src="-00.jpg" alt="-00.jpg" border="0" /></center><br />it''s back to the cold war.hip-hopping through various strife-torn locations, this thriller looks at the long and tense relationship between a couple of daredevil cia agents. bolstered by the pairing of two of hollywood''s most glamorous leading men, spy game keeps us absorbed in the dashing duo''s derring-do. director tony scott (younger brother of the more celebrated helmer ridley) does take a little while in involving the viewer in the cloak-and-dagger stuff. but once the screenplay gets into the subject of espionage, the film holds us in a vice-like grip. circa 1991, a cocky federal agent (pitt) arrives in china on an undercover mission. right away, he lands in trouble and is arrested on charges of treason. the narrative then sets up a provocative premise: will the prisoner''s mentor, a cia veteran (redford) on the verge of retirement, defy his superiors and somehow save his former protege? an intriguing cat-and-mouse game ensues in which the acid-tongued veteran must match wits with cia''s hierarchy. clearly, the government officials are more concerned about strengthening us-china ties, not caring a whit for the young man''s imminent execution. in other words, the rookie agent has an ice cube''s chance in hell to survive. technically chic, what with cleverly constructed screenplay, innovative camerawork and designer accessories, director scott (top gun, enemy of the state) succeeds in fashioning a sophisticated upmarket product. unfortunately, some of the peripheral characters, like the human rights activist (catherine mccormack) who provides the requisite female quotient, come off as strictly one-dimensional. however, such complaints are redeemed by the palpable chemistry between redford and pitt. incidentally, redford gave pitt his first big break, way back in 1992, by directing him in a river runs through it. in the role of the devil-may-care agent held captive by the chinese, pitt is efficient. the rest of the supporting cast, including marianne jean-baptiste as a bemused secretary and old-timer charlotte rampling as an aristocratic spy, pass muster. the real star of the show is robert redford. with considerable charm, grace and self-deprecating humour, he embodies the cynical cold war warrior to perfection. just for this actor for all seasons, it is worth walking miles to see spy game. </div> </div>