- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,794
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
Spy Game
"This is a whole other game. And its
serious and its dangerous -- and its not
one you want to lose".
I was surprised as to how much I enjoyed
Spy Game, after all the lukewarm
reviews it received from the critics as well
as some of the less than enthusiastic comments
I heard from personal friends. In fact,
going into this movie with the notion that
I might be disappointed made me enjoy this
film even more!
CIA operative Nathan Muir (Redford) is retiring
after 30 years of honorable service to the
organization. On his last day with the CIA
Nathan learns that one of his contract agents,
Tom Bishop (Pitt) has been arrested in a
military prison in China on charges of espionage.
The rest of the movie centers on the Agency's
effort to disconnect themselves from Bishop and
his execution that will occur in 24 hours.
Through constant flashbacks, Muir recalls how
he recruited and trained the young rookie, their
turbulent times together as operatives, and the
woman who threatened their friendship.
Spy Game is actually an extremely
engrossing, intelligent, well written, acted
and directed spy thriller full of slick style
and exciting espionage. Director Tony Scott
(Top Gun, Days of Thunder, Crimson Tide) uses
a souped-up visual style (accented by the
black-and-white freeze frames with legends
indicating the time that marks the action as
a device to count down the 24 hours in which
the movie takes place). However, the film
suffers from any lack of emotion that is shown
from any of the characters, as well as the
fact that there just isn't enough scenes of
Brad Pitt or Robert Redford acting together.
How is the transfer?
I have been very impressed with Universal's
latest batch of transfers. Starting with
K-PAX, and now including SPY GAME,
Universal is putting out demo-quality DVD
product that has become a visual and sonic
experience.
The 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer
is outstanding. There is no hint of grain nor
video noise which is important in a film with
many dark scenes. Colors are warm, looking very
natural. Flesh tones remain consistently accurate.
This is just a beautiful film to watch.
Equally as impressive is the 5.1 DTS mix.
Though there are very few action sequences,
there is a constant sense of sound that envelops
you throughout this film. Most of it comes in
the form of Harry Gregson's musical score that
plays strongly through the front soundstage and
is supplemented by the rears. Even the quietest
scenes within the CIA conference room is supplemented
with surrounding sounds of idle chatter or papers
being shuffled. Precise and accurate direction is
the way I would best describe the sound mix. When the
action sequences do heat up, every speaker comes
alive with the roar of helicopters and bullets
supplemented by an overly active LFE signal that
had my SV Subwoofer shaking the floor.
Special Features
This disc is loaded.
Pop in the disc and you are greeted with a
computer simulated introduction that accesses
the satellite database and logs you into a menu
sequence that shows quick clips of the movie.
Right off the bat, I have a complaint. Universal
no longer includes the terrific promo spot in
front of their features that includes Clooney
lighting his lighter. These promo spots have
always been the highlight of Universal DVD product,
and I implore the studio to start putting them
back in their releases.
There are 2 feature commentaries on this DVD.
The first is by Director Tony Scott. The second
features Producers Marc Abraham and Douglas Wick.
Before you even watch the film for the first
time, you should hop on over to the BONUS AREA
and turn on Clandestine Ops. In a branching
style originally introduced in Fox Special Editions,
a CLASSIFIED folder appears on the lower right corner
of the screen. Clicking on it takes you to a sequence
that brings you behind-the-scenes of the particular
point of the film you are watching. For instance,
in chapter 9, as the film takes place in Vietnam,
a CLASSIFIED sequence shows us the crew shooting
Vietnam scenes in Morocco. Director Tony Scott talks
us through the efforts of finding the perfect green
oasis. In chapter 14, we are taken to a rooftop in
Berlin where Pitt and Redford meet. Click on the
CLASSIFIED icon and learn how Scott paid for a
helicopter out of his own pocket in order to shoot
scenes that would ultimately add more anxiety to
the two lone characters talking to each other.
This is a great feature that I wish studios would
use more often.
There are 5 Deleted Scenes that include...
* A 25-second clip of Pitt riding into
Beirut in a taxi. The streets are alive with
the sounds of gunfire and exploding grenades.
* A sequence where Nathan (Redford) meets
Hadley (Cathleem McCormack) for a second time
asking for her help, persuading her to leave
Bishop (Pitt).
* Nathan walks through the streets of Beirut
and then a coffee shop looking for Bishop in
this 1-minute clip.
* Lots of street noise and no audible dialogue
in this 40-second clip of Bishop talking to
Hadley as she gets in her car.
* A 1-minute clip of Nathan reflecting how
he and Folger met in Karachi. Nathan keeps this
information quiet at the CIA conference table.
All the scenes are in finished form, and can
be played with or without the Director's commentary.
There are 4 Alternate versions of existing
scenes that include...
* a 40-second sequence of Bishop taking some
hard line photography on the war-strewn streets
of Beirut, supplemented by Nathan's narration.
* An almost seemingly identical replay of the
Beirut restaurant scene between Nathan, Bishop
and Hadley. Though the scene plays out for about
2 minutes, I don't see the difference between
the original.
* The building explosion is far more amplified
with more casualties and street havoc shown in
this alternate take of the original scene.
* The film's finale is replayed with a lot
more attention given to the "Dinner Out" operation.
The film also ends with an extended sequence of
Nathan's drive out to retirement and where he
ultimately heads to.
All the scenes are in finished form, and can
be played with or without the Director's commentary.
Tony Scott on Storyboarding is very
unique in that this is the very first time I
have seen storyboards drawn by the Director himself.
Though the storyboards are very primitive, we see
Scott's drawn ideas shown against the final cut
of the film as window panes are placed above and
below each other. Scott explains that his
storyboards come after all the film locations
are in place and after his cast has been picked.
This helps him better articulate his drawings.
In what seems to be a wasted extra, What it
takes to be a CIA agent is a simple one-page
blurb on how the CIA recruits its best and
brightest individuals.
In addition to the film's original theatrical
trailer there are extras including...
* DVD-ROM programming
* A bio of the film's Cast and Filmmakers
* Production Notes
There is also a short promo for the film's
soundtrack CD.
A trailer for Universal's upcoming theatrical
release of The Bourne Identity is also
included. It looks pretty good!
Final Thoughts
There will ultimately be two camps of thought
about SPY GAME. While I felt that it
was any intelligently entertaining thriller,
I am certain others will feel it to be mindless
entertainment.
In any case, Spy Game is DVD not to
be missed. Rent if you are curious -- buy it
afterwards.
Release Date: April 9, 2002
Although as far as these go Universal's is quite nice.
