Ronin
Short description
A briefcase of unknown contents is stolen in Paris, and a clandestine group is assembled to take it back. The team is made up of specialists from different backgrounds, hired by an Irish operative who keeps the details of the job to herself. Their task is to intercept the case before the people currently holding it can sell it on. None of them know what is inside, and the operation pits them against heavily armed rivals who want the same prize. Trust erodes as the mission proceeds, and suspicion falls on members of the group itself.
John Frankenheimer directed the film, the fifteenth of the eighteen features he made, following Andersonville and preceding Reindeer Games. The screenplay is credited to David Mamet and J.D. Zeik, and Frank Mancuso Jr. produced. Robert De Niro leads the cast as Sam, alongside Jean Reno as Vincent, Natascha McElhone as Deirdre, Stellan Skarsgård as Gregor, Skipp Sudduth as Larry and Jonathan Pryce as Seamus O'Rourke. Made for a budget of 55 million dollars, it returned 71 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.2 out of 10 from around 207,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 7 out of 10 from roughly 2,800 votes. A critics' rating of 6.8 out of 10 from 72 reviews places it close to the general audience response.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film's director, John Frankenheimer, wanted to cast Djimon Hounsou, who had previously worked with Spielberg on *Amistad*, in a supporting role, but the producers disapproved of his choice. Frankenheimer also tried to cast Alec Baldwin, but he refused to film in Europe, as he did not want to be away from his family.
- J.D. Zeik's screenplay was purchased for half a million dollars by TriStar Pictures. In early 1997, it was re-acquired by United Artists.
- Figure skater Natasha Kirillova, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion, was played by two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion Katarina Witt.
- To add realism to the final chase, 300 stunt drivers were involved in the filming.
- Filming one of the scenes almost fell through due to five consecutive days of unsuitable weather. Eventually, the road had to be simply wetted before filming to create the impression that it had recently rained. Furthermore, French law prohibits shooting early in the morning, but the filmmakers received special permission.
- The film's main musical theme is performed on the Armenian duduk.
- The film's shooting period lasted from November 3, 1997, to March 3, 1998.
- The script required Sam, played by Robert De Niro, to chase Gregor, played by Stellan Skarsgård, in the amphitheater and stop near the railing. During filming, however, the stunt doubles accidentally fell over the railing. Director John Frankenheimer (1930-2002) liked the result so much that he left the take in the film.
- To create the desired atmosphere for the film, the props department was instructed to use only props in muted tones, and extras were forbidden to wear bright clothing.
- David Mamet served as the script doctor on the project. He significantly reworked the original screenplay, making substantial changes to the characters and dialogue. This led to disputes regarding Mamet's credit. He agreed to appear in the credits under a pseudonym, or not at all. Ultimately, J.D. Zyk and the enigmatic Richard Weiss (Mamet’s pseudonym) were listed in the credits.
- Right-hand drive cars were used in the scene where Robert De Niro and Natasha McElhone chase another vehicle, cars that also had controls in front of the passenger seat.
- Eighty cars were wrecked during filming.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
