Welcome to Robert De Niro's Fans site

User Rating: 7.1/10 (38,341 votes)
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Photos (see all 14 photos)
Overview
Director:
John Frankenheimer
Writers:
J.D. Zeik (story)
J.D. Zeik (screenplay) ...
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Release Date:
25 September 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Action / Crime / Thriller more
Tagline:
Your ally could become your enemy more
Plot Outline:
A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians. more
Plot Synopsis:
This plot synopsis is empty. Add a synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Caper / Shot In The Back / Blood / Film Noir / Shootout more
Awards:
1 win & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
The ultimate McGuffin more
Cast
 (Cast overview, first billed only)

    Robert De Niro    ...     Sam

    Jean Reno    ...     Vincent

    Natascha McElhone    ...     Deirdre

    Stellan Skarsgård    ...     Gregor

    Sean Bean    ...     Spence
    Skipp Sudduth    ...     Larry
    Michael Lonsdale    ...     Jean-Pierre
    Jan Triska    ...     Dapper Gent

    Jonathan Pryce    ...     Seamus O'Rourke

    Ron Perkins    ...     Man with the Newspaper
    Féodor Atkine    ...     Mikhi
    Katarina Witt    ...     Natacha Kirilova
    Bernard Bloch    ...     Sergi
    Dominic Gugliametti    ...     Clown Ice Skater
    Alan Beckworth    ...     Clown Ice Skater
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Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence and some language.
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
121 min
Country:
UK / USA
Language:
English / French / Russian
Color:
Color (DeLuxe) (as de luxe)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS-Stereo / DTS
Certification:
Brazil:12 / Netherlands:12 / Brazil:14 (DVD re-rating) / Australia:MA (DVD rating) / USA:R (certificate #35655) / Argentina:13 / Australia:M / Belgium:KT / Canada:14A / Finland:K-16 / France:U / Germany:16 (w) / Ireland:15 / Italy:T / Norway:15 / Peru:14 / Portugal:M/12 / Singapore:PG / South Korea:15 / Spain:13 / Sweden:15 / Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) / Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) / UK:15 / Iceland:16 / Denmark:15
Filming Locations:
Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France more
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Company:
FGM Entertainment more
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
To make it look like Robert De Niro and Natascha McElhone were actually driving during the car chase, right hand drive cars were used, with the passenger side made up to mirror the real controls. The actors then mimicked the stunt drivers movements. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Sam and Vincent are in the car, waiting for Gregor, Seamus and Deirdre to exit their safe house. Sam, in the near seat, has his side mirror angled so he can see straight behind the car. He makes mention to Vincent, who looks from the other side of the car. The mirror angle would mean Vincent could not see them from his position. more
Quotes:
Sam: You're great in the locker room, pal, and your reflexes might die hard, but you're weak when you put your spikes on. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Girl Next Door (1999) more
Soundtrack:
Our Favorite Son more
FAQ
So, what IS in the silver briefcase?
What guns do the mercenaries use?
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User Comments
   (Comment on this title)
36 out of 48 people found the following comment useful:-
The ultimate McGuffin, 14 March 2005
7/10
Author: smatysia (smatysiak@pdq.net) from Houston

A pretty decent action outing for Robert De Niro and John Frankenheimer. Good photography of some of the seedier neighborhoods of Paris and other French cities. This film is quintessential De Niro, and he gets all the good lines. There is an interesting revelation at the end, which I will not reveal here. The case everyone is after, is a complete McGuffin, what Hitchcock called that plot device, the thing which everyone wants, and it doesn't really matter exactly what that is. I think that Frankenheimer may have been paying homage to Hitchcock on this, as what is in the case is never revealed. Apparently David Mamet was the script doctor on this film, and it ended up OK. I am of two minds on Mamet, having liked "The Untouchables" a lot, and disliked "Glengarry Glen Ross" and loathed "Oleanna". I also liked Natascha McElhone, who I had never heard of. She is a beautiful and accomplished actress. Some people complained about her brogue. OK, she's not Meryl Streep. But then again, who is? A lot of actors won't even try. I look forward to seeing more of her.

Oh, yeah, and some of the car chases were really, really cool, almost McQueenian.