Spy Game (2001)

Starring: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, et al.
Director: Tony Scott

Rating: R

Studio: Universal

Review Posted: 11.22.01

Spoilers: Some

Rating: 2/4

By Craig Younkin.

The teaming of Brad Pitt and Robert Redford seems almost destined to create a suspenseful and action packed film. With the exception of "The Mexican", Pitt's resume over the past few years has looked very impressive. And Robert Redford has suffered as of late, but is still a man who could turn in a good performance, even while dealing with a lousy script.

Sadly, that is just what he is dealing with here in "Spy Game", a film that rarely plays by the rules, or even plays for that matter. Pitt begins the film as CIA operative Tom Bishop, a young spark plug on a rescue mission in China. But when that mission goes wrong, Bishop is captured, and the U.S is given 24 hours to bargain with the Chinese before they decide to execute him.

This film is also taking place in 1991, where then George Bush Sr. was discussing a trade agreement with the Chinese government. Since the CIA would not want to jeopardize that in any way, we understand that Bishop's mission was a freelance one, and for his actions, the CIA is prepared to drop him like a fly.

So his only hope is his former teacher, Nathan Muir (Robert Redford). For Muir, this is his last day on the job, but the way he acts, you can just tell he would rather work it for thirty more years. That day he is called in by the heads of the office to discuss Bishop's past.

From there, the film takes a nose dive into an endless string flashbacks, starting from when they met in Denang during Vietnam, to their last mission together in Beirut, where Bishop found the love of his life in a nurse named Elizabeth Hadley (Catherine McCormack).

But while "Spy Game" spends much of it's time alternating between their previous missions together and the interrogation of Muir, the film seems to undermine it's original story. The issue of Bishop's capture is barely talked about and is resolved quickly and in a very anti-climactic fashion.

And while Tony Scott does everything in his power to elevate the suspense level, he is still dealing with a very slow-moving and scatterbrained script that confuses way more than it thrills. Each flashback is a different, but also needlessly shown, mission that serves for a few seconds of explosive action, but makes the movie look like a jigsaw puzzle with all the wrong pieces.

Redford and Pitt make an attractive looking action duo, it's too bad they weren't given a better film to stretch their talent. Redford is very good as the CIA's slick old pro, while Pitt manages to show a walking contradiction in a man who wants to save lives as much as he wants to take them.

Yet, it is all for no good purpose. "Spy Game" is an unfocused film that jumps all over the place, and never manages to create suspense while doing so. I can only hope that next week's similarly plotted "Behind Enemy Lines" does better with the presented material.

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