Spy Game: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|2001 |
{{Short description|2001 action thriller film directed by Tony Scott}} |
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{{other uses}} |
{{other uses}} |
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{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
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| studio = {{plainlist| |
| studio = {{plainlist| |
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* [[Beacon Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=62212|title=Spy Game|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> |
* [[Beacon Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=62212|title=Spy Game|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> |
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* [[Red Wagon Productions|Douglas Wick Productions]] |
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* [[Toho|Toho-Towa]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|title=Spy Game (2001)|website=British Film Institute (BFI)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805190742/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref> |
* [[Toho|Toho-Towa]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|title=Spy Game (2001)|website=British Film Institute (BFI)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805190742/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b85ba2957|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref> |
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* [[Metropolitan Filmexport]]<ref name="bfi"/> |
* [[Metropolitan Filmexport]]<ref name="bfi"/> |
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}} |
}} |
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| distributor = {{plainlist| |
| distributor = {{plainlist| |
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* [[ |
* [[Universal Pictures]]<ref name=afi /> |
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* Beacon Pictures<ref name=afi /> |
* Beacon Pictures<ref name=afi /> |
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}} |
}} |
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| released = {{Film date|2001|11|21}} (US) |
| released = {{Film date|2001|11|21}} (US) |
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| runtime = 126 minutes |
| runtime = 126 minutes |
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| country = {{plainlist| |
| country = {{plainlist| |
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* United States |
* United States |
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* France |
* France |
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* Germany |
* Germany |
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* Japan |
* Japan}} |
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| language = English |
| language = English |
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| budget = $115 million |
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| budget = $115 million<ref name=BOM>{{cite web |title=''Spy Game'' (2001) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=spygame.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=December 20, 2009}}</ref> |
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| gross = $143 million |
| gross = $143 million |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Spy Game''''' is a 2001 |
'''''Spy Game''''' is a 2001 [[Action film|action]] [[Thriller film|thriller]] film directed by [[Tony Scott]] and starring [[Robert Redford]] |
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and [[Brad Pitt]]. The American–French–German–Japanese co-production grossed $62 million in the United States and $143 million worldwide on a $115 million budget and received mostly positive reviews from film critics. |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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In 1991, the [[United States]] and [[China]] are close to a major trade agreement, with the [[President of the United States|President]] due to visit China to seal the deal. The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) learns that its asset Tom Bishop has been arrested at a [[People's Liberation Army]] prison in [[Suzhou]] and will be executed in 24 hours |
In 1991, the [[United States]] and [[China]] are close to a major trade agreement, with the [[President of the United States|President]] due to visit China to seal the deal. The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) learns that its asset Tom Bishop has been arrested at a [[People's Liberation Army]] prison in [[Suzhou]] and will be executed in 24 hours unless the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] claims him and bargains for his release. Bishop's actions, unsanctioned by the CIA, risk jeopardizing the agreement. A group of CIA executives summon Nathan Muir, a veteran [[Agent handling#Case officer|case officer]] and Bishop's mentor, who plans to retire from the Agency at the end of the day. While purportedly interviewing Muir to learn his history with Bishop, the executives seek a pretext for not intervening on Bishop's imprisonment. Unknown to them, Muir was tipped off about Bishop's capture by fellow CIA veteran Harry Duncan, the Hong Kong Station Chief. |
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Muir leaks the story to [[CNN]] through an [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] contact, Digby 'Digger' Gibson in Hong Kong, believing that public pressure would force American intervention. They are stalled briefly before a phone call to the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] from [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations|Deputy Director for Operations]] Charles Harker results in CNN retracting the story as a hoax. Muir met Bishop in 1975 |
Muir leaks the story to [[CNN]] through an [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] contact, Digby 'Digger' Gibson in Hong Kong, believing that public pressure would force American intervention. They are stalled briefly before a phone call to the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] from [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations|Deputy Director for Operations]] Charles Harker results in CNN retracting the story as a hoax. Muir met Bishop in 1975 when Bishop was a [[United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. Muir gives Bishop a mission to eliminate a high-ranking [[People's Army of Vietnam|North Vietnamese military]] officer. Bishop and his spotter, Tran, assassinate the target despite being compromised, and Bishop downs a pursuing enemy attack helicopter. Bishop escorts the now wounded Tran to safety, impressing Muir. In 1976, Muir recruited Bishop as a CIA asset in [[West Berlin]], where Bishop was tasked with procuring assets in [[East Germany]]. Then he discusses Bishop's spy work in [[Beirut]] in 1985, during the [[War of the Camps]], which was their last mission together. |
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In a series of flashbacks, Bishop is troubled by Muir's conviction that civilian "assets" who endangered a mission should be sacrificed to preserve the "greater good." After Bishop attempts to countermand Muir during a mission to save the life of an asset, Muir emphasizes that he will not tolerate dissent, and would not rescue Bishop if he was captured going "off the reservation". During a mission in [[Lebanon]], Bishop, posing as a [[photojournalist]], meets relief worker Elizabeth Hadley. While using her to connect with an asset for the mission, they became romantically involved. Muir distrusts Hadley |
In a series of flashbacks, Bishop is troubled by Muir's conviction that civilian "assets" who endangered a mission should be sacrificed to preserve the "greater good." After Bishop attempts to countermand Muir during a mission to save the life of an asset, Muir emphasizes that he will not tolerate dissent, and would not rescue Bishop if he was captured going "off the reservation". During a mission in [[Lebanon]], Bishop, posing as a [[photojournalist]], meets relief worker Elizabeth Hadley. While using her to connect with an asset for the mission, they became romantically involved. Muir distrusts Hadley and reveals to Bishop that she was exiled from the [[United Kingdom]]. Hadley later confesses to Bishop that she was involved in the bombing of a Chinese building in Britain, which was supposed to be empty but contained Chinese nationals. Bishop reveals to Hadley his true identity. Muir elects again to sacrifice a civilian asset for the sake of their mission, and Bishop cuts professional ties with Muir. Muir, fearing that Hadley could threaten the Agency and potentially Bishop, makes a deal with the Chinese, exchanging Hadley in return for an arrested U.S. diplomat. Chinese agents kidnap Hadley, and a [[Dear John letter]] is forged and left for Bishop. |
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In the present, Muir realizes that Bishop went to China for Hadley. In a series of misdirections, he forges a directive signed by the [[Director of Central Intelligence]] to begin "Operation Dinner Out", a rescue mission spearheaded by a [[United States Navy SEALs|SEAL]] team that Bishop had developed as a "Plan B" for his own attempt at rescuing Hadley. Using $282,000 of his life savings and a misappropriated file on Chinese coastline satellite imagery, Muir enlists Duncan to assist him in bribing a Chinese energy official to cut power to the prison for 30 minutes, during which |
In the present, Muir realizes that Bishop went to China for Hadley. In a series of misdirections, he forges a directive signed by the [[Director of Central Intelligence]] to begin "Operation Dinner Out", a rescue mission spearheaded by a [[United States Navy SEALs|SEAL]] team that Bishop had developed as a "Plan B" for his own attempt at rescuing Hadley. Using $282,000 of his life savings and a misappropriated file on Chinese coastline satellite imagery, Muir enlists Duncan to assist him in bribing a Chinese energy official to cut power to the prison for 30 minutes, during which the SEAL rescue team will retrieve Bishop and Hadley. Harker is suspicious that Muir is working against the CIA, but when he confronts Muir before the gathered executives, Muir "confesses" to unprofessionally using company resources to gather information about his intended retirement home, which he has distorted the evidence to support. Bishop is rescued along with Hadley and surmises that Muir was responsible for saving him when he hears the helicopter pilot refer to "Operation Dinner Out", which was also the code name for an operation Bishop used to get a birthday gift for Muir while they were in Lebanon. When the CIA officials are belatedly informed of the rescue, Muir has already left the building and is seen driving safely off into the countryside. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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<!--- [[MOS:FILMCAST]] [[WP:NOTDATABASE]] - cast and order per Main Cast [[opening credits]], roles per [[closing credits]] scroll ---> |
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{{div col}} |
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{{Cast listing| |
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* [[Robert Redford]] as CIA Case Officer Nathan D. Muir |
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* [[ |
* [[Robert Redford]] as Nathan Muir |
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* [[Brad Pitt]] as Tom Bishop |
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* [[Catherine McCormack]] as Elizabeth Hadley |
* [[Catherine McCormack]] as Elizabeth Hadley |
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* [[Stephen Dillane]] as [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations|Deputy Director for Operations]] |
* [[Stephen Dillane]] as Charles Harker, [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations|CIA Deputy Director for Operations]] |
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* [[Larry Bryggman]] as [[Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|Deputy Director |
* [[Larry Bryggman]] as Troy Folger, [[Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA Deputy Director]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Michael Paul Chan]] as Vincent Vy Ngo |
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* [[ |
* [[Marianne Jean-Baptiste]] as Gladys Jennip |
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* [[ |
* [[Ken Leung]] as Li |
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* [[ |
* [[David Hemmings]] as Harry Duncan, CIA Hong Kong office |
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}} |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Todd Boyce]] as CIA Agent Robert Aiken |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Matthew Marsh (actor)|Matthew Marsh]] as Dr. William Byars |
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* [[Andrew Grainger]] as CIA Operations Officer Andrew Unger |
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* [[Shane Rimmer]] as The Estate Agent |
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* [[Ho Yi]] as The Prison Warden |
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* [[Benedict Wong]] as CIA Agent Tran |
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* [[Adrian Pang]] as CIA Agent Jiang |
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* [[Omid Djalili]] as CIA Agent Doumet |
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* [[Dale Dye]] as Commander Wiley, [[United States Navy SEALs|USN SEAL]] |
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* [[Demetri Goritsas]] as CIA Agent Billy Hyland |
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* [[Charlotte Rampling]] as Anne Cathcart |
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* [[Matthew Walker (Canadian actor)|Matthew Walker]] as MI6 Agent Digby 'Digger' Gibson |
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* [[James Aubrey (actor)|James Aubrey]] as CIA Agent Mitch Alford |
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* [[Colin Stinton]] as CIA Agent Henry Pollard |
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* [[Amidou]] as Dr. Ahmed |
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* [[Andrea Osvárt]] as Muir's Cousin in Berlin |
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{{div col end}} |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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An American–French–German–Japanese co-production,<ref name=afi /> it was shot in [[Morocco]] from November 5, 2000 to March 19, 2001, as well as in Budapest. The film was originally to be directed by [[Mike van Diem]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hasselhoff gets to just be himself in 'Dieter' |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=21 May 2000 |page=E35}}</ref> Pitt passed on playing the title role in ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'' for this project.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Damon in Line to Play Bourne |agency=[[Reuters]] |work=[[Sun Sentinel]] |location= Fort Lauderdale |date=30 June 2000 |page=17}}</ref> It made its worldwide premiere at the Mann National Theatre on November 19, 2001.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Universal Pictures Celebrates World Premiere of 'Spy Game' - Update |agency=[[Universal Pictures]] |publisher=[[PR Newswire]] |via=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |date=November 13, 2001 |url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011113/latu108_1.html |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011124000517/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011113/latu108_1.html |archive-date=November 24, 2001}}</ref> |
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==Soundtrack== |
==Soundtrack== |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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===Box office=== |
===Box office=== |
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''Spy Game'' grossed $62.4{{nbsp}}million domestically (United States and Canada) and $80.7{{nbsp}}million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $143{{nbsp}}million, against a budget of $115{{nbsp}}million.<ref name=BOM>{{Cite Box Office Mojo |access-date=2024-11-30}}</ref> It peaked at No. 3, in its opening weekend, and spent its first five weeks in the Top{{nbsp}}10 at the domestic box office.<ref name=BOMWeek>{{cite web |title=''Spy Game'' {{!}} Domestic Weekly |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2138277377/weekly/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |access-date=2024-11-30}}</ref> |
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''Spy Game'' opened at number three behind ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]'', earning $21.6 million during its opening weekend, combined with $30.6 million from its first five days.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109072570/harry-potter-keeps-its-lead-over/ |title='Harry Potter' keeps its lead over Thanksgiving weekend |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906213139/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109072570/harry-potter-keeps-its-lead-over/ |date=November 27, 2001 |access-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |page=33 |publisher=[[Daily Record (New Jersey)|Daily Record]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=WeekendRatings>{{cite web|title=Weekend Box Office: November 23-25, 2001 |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=47&p=.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref> The film grossed $62,362,785 in the United States and $143,049,560 worldwide.<ref name=BOM/> |
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===Critical response=== |
===Critical response=== |
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{{RT prose|{{RT data|score}}|{{RT data|average}}|{{RT data|count}}| The outcome of the kinetic Spy Game is never in doubt, but it is fun watching Robert Redford and Brad Pitt work.|ref=yes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} {{MC film|63|29|ref=yes|access-date=2024-11-30}} |
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Review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gave the movie an approval rating of 64% based on 133 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "The outcome of the kinetic ''Spy Game'' is never in doubt, but it is fun watching Robert Redford and Brad Pitt work."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spy_game |title=Spy Game (2001) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=March 6, 2018 }}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a score of 63 out of 100 based upon reviews by 29 critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/spy-game |title=Spy Game Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=March 6, 2018 }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade B+.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=Cinemascore :: Movie Title Search |website=www.cinemascore.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073531/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date=2018-02-06}}</ref> |
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[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film two and a half stars out of four and said, "It is not a bad movie, mind you; it's clever and shows great control of craft, but it doesn't care, and so it's hard for us to care about."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Spy Game |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spy-game-2001 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=November 27, 2001 |access-date=October 24, 2021 }}</ref> |
[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film two and a half stars out of four and said, "It is not a bad movie, mind you; it's clever and shows great control of craft, but it doesn't care, and so it's hard for us to care about."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Spy Game |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spy-game-2001 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=November 27, 2001 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |via=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> |
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{{Expand section|date=December 2018}}<!-- more critics needed --> |
{{Expand section|date=December 2018}}<!-- more critics needed --> |
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==Novels== |
==Novels== |
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In 2022 Michael Frost Beckner, the co-screenwriter of ''Spy Game'', published a trilogy of novels featuring characters from the film: ''Muir’s Gambit'', ''Bishop's Endgame'', and ''Aiken in Check''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Frost Beckner |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22483516.Michael_Frost_Beckner |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> |
In 2022, Michael Frost Beckner, the co-screenwriter of ''Spy Game'', published a trilogy of novels featuring characters from the film: ''Muir’s Gambit'', ''Bishop's Endgame'', and ''Aiken in Check''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Frost Beckner |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22483516.Michael_Frost_Beckner |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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* [[China–United States relations]] |
* [[China–United States relations]] |
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*[[Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War | Russell Adler]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Wikiquote|Spy Game}} |
{{Wikiquote|Spy Game}} |
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* {{ |
* {{AllMovie title}} |
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* {{IMDb title |
* {{IMDb title}} |
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{{Tony Scott}} |
{{Tony Scott}} |
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[[Category:Films set in Vietnam]] |
[[Category:Films set in Vietnam]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in Budapest]] |
[[Category:Films shot in Budapest]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in Casablanca]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic]] |
[[Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in |
[[Category:Films shot in Ouarzazate]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]] |
[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:American political action films]] |
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[[Category:Universal Pictures films]] |
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]] |
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[[Category:Vietnam War films]] |
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[[Category:English-language action thriller films]] |
[[Category:English-language action thriller films]] |
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[[Category:English-language spy thriller films]] |
Latest revision as of 22:16, 11 December 2024
Spy Game | |
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Directed by | Tony Scott |
Screenplay by |
|
Story by | Michael Frost Beckner |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Dan Mindel |
Edited by | Christian Wagner |
Music by | Harry Gregson-Williams |
Production companies | |
Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 126 minutes |
Countries |
|
Language | English |
Budget | $115 million |
Box office | $143 million |
Spy Game is a 2001 action thriller film directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. The American–French–German–Japanese co-production grossed $62 million in the United States and $143 million worldwide on a $115 million budget and received mostly positive reviews from film critics.
Plot
[edit]In 1991, the United States and China are close to a major trade agreement, with the President due to visit China to seal the deal. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) learns that its asset Tom Bishop has been arrested at a People's Liberation Army prison in Suzhou and will be executed in 24 hours unless the U.S. government claims him and bargains for his release. Bishop's actions, unsanctioned by the CIA, risk jeopardizing the agreement. A group of CIA executives summon Nathan Muir, a veteran case officer and Bishop's mentor, who plans to retire from the Agency at the end of the day. While purportedly interviewing Muir to learn his history with Bishop, the executives seek a pretext for not intervening on Bishop's imprisonment. Unknown to them, Muir was tipped off about Bishop's capture by fellow CIA veteran Harry Duncan, the Hong Kong Station Chief.
Muir leaks the story to CNN through an MI6 contact, Digby 'Digger' Gibson in Hong Kong, believing that public pressure would force American intervention. They are stalled briefly before a phone call to the FCC from Deputy Director for Operations Charles Harker results in CNN retracting the story as a hoax. Muir met Bishop in 1975 when Bishop was a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper during the Vietnam War. Muir gives Bishop a mission to eliminate a high-ranking North Vietnamese military officer. Bishop and his spotter, Tran, assassinate the target despite being compromised, and Bishop downs a pursuing enemy attack helicopter. Bishop escorts the now wounded Tran to safety, impressing Muir. In 1976, Muir recruited Bishop as a CIA asset in West Berlin, where Bishop was tasked with procuring assets in East Germany. Then he discusses Bishop's spy work in Beirut in 1985, during the War of the Camps, which was their last mission together.
In a series of flashbacks, Bishop is troubled by Muir's conviction that civilian "assets" who endangered a mission should be sacrificed to preserve the "greater good." After Bishop attempts to countermand Muir during a mission to save the life of an asset, Muir emphasizes that he will not tolerate dissent, and would not rescue Bishop if he was captured going "off the reservation". During a mission in Lebanon, Bishop, posing as a photojournalist, meets relief worker Elizabeth Hadley. While using her to connect with an asset for the mission, they became romantically involved. Muir distrusts Hadley and reveals to Bishop that she was exiled from the United Kingdom. Hadley later confesses to Bishop that she was involved in the bombing of a Chinese building in Britain, which was supposed to be empty but contained Chinese nationals. Bishop reveals to Hadley his true identity. Muir elects again to sacrifice a civilian asset for the sake of their mission, and Bishop cuts professional ties with Muir. Muir, fearing that Hadley could threaten the Agency and potentially Bishop, makes a deal with the Chinese, exchanging Hadley in return for an arrested U.S. diplomat. Chinese agents kidnap Hadley, and a Dear John letter is forged and left for Bishop.
In the present, Muir realizes that Bishop went to China for Hadley. In a series of misdirections, he forges a directive signed by the Director of Central Intelligence to begin "Operation Dinner Out", a rescue mission spearheaded by a SEAL team that Bishop had developed as a "Plan B" for his own attempt at rescuing Hadley. Using $282,000 of his life savings and a misappropriated file on Chinese coastline satellite imagery, Muir enlists Duncan to assist him in bribing a Chinese energy official to cut power to the prison for 30 minutes, during which the SEAL rescue team will retrieve Bishop and Hadley. Harker is suspicious that Muir is working against the CIA, but when he confronts Muir before the gathered executives, Muir "confesses" to unprofessionally using company resources to gather information about his intended retirement home, which he has distorted the evidence to support. Bishop is rescued along with Hadley and surmises that Muir was responsible for saving him when he hears the helicopter pilot refer to "Operation Dinner Out", which was also the code name for an operation Bishop used to get a birthday gift for Muir while they were in Lebanon. When the CIA officials are belatedly informed of the rescue, Muir has already left the building and is seen driving safely off into the countryside.
Cast
[edit]- Robert Redford as Nathan Muir
- Brad Pitt as Tom Bishop
- Catherine McCormack as Elizabeth Hadley
- Stephen Dillane as Charles Harker, CIA Deputy Director for Operations
- Larry Bryggman as Troy Folger, CIA Deputy Director
- Michael Paul Chan as Vincent Vy Ngo
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Gladys Jennip
- Ken Leung as Li
- David Hemmings as Harry Duncan, CIA Hong Kong office
In addition, Garrick Hagon appears as CIA Director Cy Wilson.
Production
[edit]An American–French–German–Japanese co-production,[1] it was shot in Morocco from November 5, 2000 to March 19, 2001, as well as in Budapest. The film was originally to be directed by Mike van Diem.[3] Pitt passed on playing the title role in The Bourne Identity for this project.[4] It made its worldwide premiere at the Mann National Theatre on November 19, 2001.[5]
Soundtrack
[edit]Home video
[edit]The film was released by Universal Studios Home Video on DVD and VHS on April 9, 2002.[6]
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]Spy Game grossed $62.4 million domestically (United States and Canada) and $80.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $143 million, against a budget of $115 million.[7] It peaked at No. 3, in its opening weekend, and spent its first five weeks in the Top 10 at the domestic box office.[8]
Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 64% of 135 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's consensus reads: " The outcome of the kinetic Spy Game is never in doubt, but it is fun watching Robert Redford and Brad Pitt work."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[10]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two and a half stars out of four and said, "It is not a bad movie, mind you; it's clever and shows great control of craft, but it doesn't care, and so it's hard for us to care about."[11]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2018) |
Novels
[edit]In 2022, Michael Frost Beckner, the co-screenwriter of Spy Game, published a trilogy of novels featuring characters from the film: Muir’s Gambit, Bishop's Endgame, and Aiken in Check.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Spy Game". American Film Institute. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "Spy Game (2001)". British Film Institute (BFI). Archived from the original on August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Hasselhoff gets to just be himself in 'Dieter'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 21 May 2000. p. E35.
- ^ "Damon in Line to Play Bourne". Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale. Reuters. 30 June 2000. p. 17.
- ^ "Universal Pictures Celebrates World Premiere of 'Spy Game' - Update" (Press release). PR Newswire. Universal Pictures. November 13, 2001. Archived from the original on November 24, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2019 – via Yahoo! Finance.
- ^ Rivero, Enrique (February 20, 2002). "UPDATE: Spy Game DVD Features Clandestine OPS". hive4media.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2002. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ "Spy Game". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Spy Game | Domestic Weekly". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Spy Game". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Spy Game". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (November 27, 2001). "Spy Game". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via RogerEbert.com.
- ^ "Michael Frost Beckner". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
External links
[edit]- ‹The template AllMovie title is being considered for deletion.› Spy Game at AllMovie
- Spy Game at IMDb
- 2001 films
- 2001 action thriller films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s English-language films
- 2000s political thriller films
- 2000s spy action films
- 2000s spy thriller films
- American action thriller films
- American political thriller films
- American spy action films
- American spy thriller films
- Beacon Pictures films
- Cold War spy films
- Films about capital punishment
- Films about the Central Intelligence Agency
- Films about prison escapes
- Films about security and surveillance
- Films directed by Tony Scott
- Films produced by Douglas Wick
- Films produced by Marc Abraham
- Films scored by Harry Gregson-Williams
- Films set in the 1970s
- Films set in 1985
- Films set in 1991
- Films set in Hong Kong
- Films set in Beirut
- Films set in East Germany
- Films set in Jiangsu
- Films set in Vietnam
- Films shot in Budapest
- Films shot in Casablanca
- Films shot in the Czech Republic
- Films shot in Ouarzazate
- Films shot in Vancouver
- American political action films
- Universal Pictures films
- Vietnam War films
- English-language action thriller films
- English-language spy thriller films